It Started with a Friend Request

by Nagarkar, Sudeep

  January 7

  Aleesha took the late pass from the warden since she was going to spend the evening with Akash. She called up Tamanna to inform her that she was going out with friends since she had told the warden that she was going to stay with her local guardian Tamanna.

  ‘So where are you going?’ Tamanna enquired on the phone.

  ‘It’s just a late evening party. My friends say its a surprise so I have no idea about the venue,’ Aleesha replied.

  ‘Oh! College friends?’

  ‘Yes, also my boyfriend. Remember the guy I had told you about when we were in the disc? The one who was hitting on me? The same guy. We are dating now,’ Aleesha blushed.

  ‘Hmm,’ Tamanna replied casually, like her love life did not matter to her. She hung up the phone to attend to some urgent matter.

  Aleesha wore the dress Akash had gifted her. She looked fabulous in the white and red Anarkali. She had worn red stilettos with silver work on it and Kashmiri silver jhumke with small red stones at the centre that added to her beauty.

  Akash and Aleesha had decided to meet at Mahalaxmi station. Aleesha boarded a local from Churchgate station. Her attire caught everyone’s attention and all the other passengers kept looking at her. She reached the venue within 15 minutes and Akash was waiting for her outside the station on the bridge.

  When Akash saw her coming towards him, he was floored by her beauty. She looked more beautiful than what he had imagined. She came near him and gave him a warm hug. He gazed at her carefully from head to toe.

  ‘You ooze sex appeal in whatever you wear. You look so pretty, my love. You should wear Indian outfits,’ Akash said still looking at her in wonder.

  ‘It’s you and your love which makes me feel beautiful. I have never felt this special before. And only you can handle me in my worst behaviour. Love you so much.’ She knew her looks worked in her favour and had the power to floor Akash anytime she wanted. She knew she could be sensuous yet elegant at the same time.

  Akash was dressed in black and dark red shaded silk Pathani. It looked trendy and at the same time made him feel masculine. He had worn the outfit with traditional pathani jootis.

  ‘You look no less than a Nawaab today. Just look at you! Killer! Your cute dimples make you so tempting that I so want to eat you right now. I hate the fact that you can seduce me so easily,’ she teased him as they moved towards Haji Ali.

  The crowd of pedestrians blocked their path. The worship place is thronged by numerous pilgrims and worshippers every day. Irrespective of faith and religion, people pay their homage to get the blessings of the legendary saint. They tried to make their way between hawkers and pedestrians. There were vendors selling earrings, necklaces, and bangles. Shouts of ‘paanch ka do’ were more prominent than the crashing waves. The 500-metre long walkway seemed like a gateway to heaven with water surrounded it on all the sides. The sea waves crashed on the rocks near the pathway at lightning speed. The taste of the seawater lingered in their mouths as they climbed the steps to the Dargah.

  ‘Akash, I can feel such positive vibes here. I am in love with this place,’ Aleesha whispered.

  They entered the Dargah which had a tomb covered by a brocad red and green sheet supported by a delicate silver frame. Aleesha glanced in all the directions and was enthralled looking at the tomb. She felt heavenly. The wind carried the mesmerizing fragrance of attar. The marble pillars inside the main hall were decorated with multihued mirrors and it embraced the ninety-nine names of Allah. There was a big chandelier right above Haji Ali’s tomb.

  ‘Cover your head with a dupatta and let’s wish for something for us,’ Akash suggested looking straight into Aleesha’s eyes.

  She nodded in agreement. Akash removed a white scarf from his pocket and tied it on his head. He bowed down in respect, touching the tomb with his hands, and kissing it in devotion. He tied a thread around one pillar and asked a mannat. The sweet smelling smoke from the lobaan and incense sticks had made the atmosphere thick and cloudy. The person sitting beside the tomb gently patted their heads and shoulders with a bunch of peacock feathers and they felt as if all their pain had subsided in that one moment.

  Akash closed his eyes and prayed:

  ‘You have shown me both sides of life. When I hardly knew what the world is, you took away my father and left me with no one to share my feelings. And then I met Aditya. I thank you whole heartedly for giving me such a friend who has always been with me even during my bad times. Then, you brought Aleesha into my life and I felt complete. I could share everything with her which I used to keep hidden from myself. For her, I have three wishes. I hope this time too you will fulfil them. Firstly, you know very well that we fight over small things but we love each other as much. Therefore, God, please make us forget our previous day’s fights when we wake up the next morning. Secondly, God please instill a bit more discipline in me so that I don’t throw a wet towel on the bed after a shower, or I keep shoes in the shoe rack, and clean all the mess I make while cooking. I don’t want Aleesha to get irritated by my habits. And thirdly, please fulfil all that Aleesha wishes for and make her happy so that she chooses me above any other guy.’

  When he opened his eyes, it gave him a feeling of salvation. He looked at Aleesha who still had her eyes closed. He gazed at her while she prayed for him:

  ‘I know that I am a bit immature God, but my love for Akash is real. I know we still have a long way to go, but I want to be with Akash forever. Bless Akash and me so that we may never surrender to whatever challenges that come our way. Fill our hearts with love for each other and make us realize each other’s worth. I have heard that you don’t upset anyone who prays here and turn everyone’s wish into a reality. It may sound a bit kiddish, but God I have three wishes. Firstly, do some magic so that no other girl likes Akash; you know he is a bit popular among girls. Even Akash should not like any other girl except me for his entire life. Secondly, even if we both lose our teeth and our hair turns grey, we should still love each other the same way we do now. And thirdly, I know I am mad that I jump to conclusions without giving it so much as a thought and fight with Mickey a lot. But please, please, please never let us sleep without hugging one another after a fight. I hope you will listen to my prayers and help me turn them into reality.’

  Aleesha opened her eyes slowly with a smile on her face and turned her face towards Akash who was gazing at her. She told him to close his eyes, look straight ahead, and pray for a happy life together.

  After praying for each other and taking the blessings of Haji Ali, they came outside to eat something at the Haji Ali Juice Centre. Akash took the menu card in his hand and placed an order for two paneer rolls and mango cream. The seating was limited but they were lucky enough to get a table. Aleesha sat on a chair and searched her bag for something.

  ‘What are you looking for?’ Akash enquired gulping down one spoon of the cream.

  ‘If you can surprise me, can’t I? I have been saving money for this. Not even Kritika knows about it. I wanted to keep it a secret but never thought you would remember,’ Aleesha said holding his hands and kissing them.

  ‘Should I open it now?’ Akash asked trying to feel what was inside the gift packet. It was a bit heavy and he couldn’t guess what it was.

  ‘Not now. Open it only once you reach home, please? Anyhow, it’s not something you can open here,’ Aleesha said with a smile.

  After having their rolls and mango cream, they moved towards Mahalaxmi station. They had decided to spend the evening in the Cyprus area of Mulund. They were sitting in the garden recollecting all the memories of their togetherness. They laughed at all the funny moments they had shared with each other. As they rejoiced, they came and sat closer to each other on the bench. The place was not very crowded, allowing them to feel the heat of their love. Aleesha pressed her body against his, and gave him a love bite on his neck.

  ‘Ouch!’ he muttered in pleasure. Akash pressed his lips on hers, sucking them slowly and passionately. H
is hands were probing under her Anarkali suit.

  In between their sensual romance, Aleesha managed to free her lips from his and whispered slowly in his ear, ‘Jaan, you are the reason for butterflies inside my stomach. I get them every time I am with you. You are the reason for my smile and the glow on my face. I don’t need any beauty parlours to get this glow. Your kisses can make my face glow even in the saddest moments. Never break my trust, Akash. Just be the same always.’

  Akash didn’t reply but just gave her a big dimpled smile. They remained in the same position for almost half an hour and then decided to leave.

  Akash unwrapped the gift once he reached home. It was a bed sheet with matching cushion covers with their pictures on it. He had never expected such a warm gift from her. He immediately changed the cushion covers and the bed sheet and clicked a picture to send to her. The bed cover had a message written on it—My Mickey, my cutie, and my hottie… you mean the world to me. Your smile brings brightness in my life. You are mine and only mine. I love you jaan.

  Seedhe saadhe saara sauda seedha seedha hona jee

  Maine tumko paana hai ya tune main ko khona jee

  Aaja dil ki kare saude baazi kya narazi..

  Aa re aa re aa re aa!

  He latched the door of his room and felt the warmness of the bed sheet and the cushions. He loved the gift to the core and messaged Aleesha to thank her:

  One of the photos on the pillow makes me remember the day we took a bubble bath together. I am so much in love with that pic. The look on your face is simply amazing. I can spend all my life looking at it. I am so lucky to have you in my life. I never expected something so beautiful that would bring all the memories of our past in front of me in one flash. Our first meet, our first kiss, the day when we made love, our bubble bath, funny moments of our good times together and what not. Wow! Am going crazy smiling looking at all the photos. Muaaaaa!! I wish you could sleep with me on this bed right now and make love to me. Oh God!! Just the thought of it is sending shivers down my spine. I will never break your trust. You are my cutie pie, my Minnie. Love you so much!!!

  It was a dream that they held on to with all their heart. All his life Akash had dreamt of someone who would make him smile and take him into a fantasy world. The dream had turned into a reality when he saw Aleesha on the first day. Now this fantasy was waiting for its happy ending.

  Life was not easy with all its burdens, but when Akash and Aleesha were together, no drama was hard to handle and no burden was hard to bear. Life wasn’t a fairytale romance, but they had the support of each other, and that is all they wanted.

  From Ashes to Ashes

  January 13

  It was almost a fortnight since they had returned from Goa but still Tamanna kept ignoring Deep. Their conversations were restricted only to office work. Her silence made Deep more anxious and left him baffled. He knew there was something cooking in her mind but he couldn’t figure out what.

  Tamanna was sitting at her desk with her pen stuck in her mouth, thinking about Deep. Though she wanted to show she couldn’t have cared less, the truth was she cared for him deeply. Although she had lost out one opportunity, she was waiting for another right time to tell him. She started typing on her phone:

  Every morning, I think I need you, your fragrance, and your smile around me. If you look at me only once, I’d be your slave for life. I don’t just want to hold your hand—a part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you closer while the flame consumes us both. I want to kiss your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely. I sense your presence even while laughing and talking with others as if an invisible chord runs straight from my heart to yours. You are tied down deep inside my head and I play my crazy love games on you without even letting you know. If I let you know everything I feel, can you handle my love and madness? Will you satisfy my thirst the same way you do inside my mind when I satisfy myself?

  She went near Deep’s desk and ordered him to stay back in office after work hours for a client meeting. Deep nodded in agreement as he took it as an opportunity to reveal what was going on in his mind. He couldn’t take it anymore.

  Finally, the time is here. Today, I will tell her all about my life and will apologize for having hurt her. I know I might lose my job because of this, but I don’t have any other choice, he thought.

  The clock ticked away slowly. Tamanna counted each minute and mentally went over all that she had planned for the evening. She went to Mr Verma who was busy in scheduling meetings and asked for a few minutes of his time.

  ‘Mr Verma, I am supposed to go to for a client meeting and office cabs are not available. So can you…’

  ‘You need not worry. You can take my car. Provided you have a license,’ Mr Verma joked while handing his car keys to Tamanna.

  He obliged expecting Tamanna would return the favour with interest sometime in the future. After all, Tamanna was a beautiful girl with a great body which was good enough to tempt Mr Verma.

  ‘Mr Verma, should we drop you home? We are going via Andheri.’

  ‘I think you carry on. I will be late. Just take care of the car. By the way, who you are going with?’ he enquired.

  When Tamanna told him that she was going with Deep, Mr Verma gave her a naughty smile. She didn’t react but just nodded and left. Each step towards Deep was an indication of how desperately she wanted him in her life. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that she was somewhat addicted to his manly voice and personality.

  Tamanna briefed him about the meeting without telling him about the venue, saying that it was not only important on a professional level but also on a personal level, since it never hurts to know your co-employees a little better. She even told him that this meeting could open new doors for him. Deep couldn’t understand what she was referring to. Only she knew that she actually meant it could open the door of romance in their lives. Tamanna’s each step was forcing Deep to let the cat out of the bag.

  Tamanna kept driving silently, navigating through the traffic of Navi Mumbai. Deep was getting anxious to know where they were heading. They had passed Nerul and she still hadn’t halted yet. He tried his best to remain calm and not question her unnecessarily. However, once they passed Khargar, Deep grew impatient and inquired, ‘Where exactly is the meet? It will be too late for you to travel back home so late I suppose.’

  ‘It’s okay, Deep. I don’t mind it as long as I am with you,’ Tamanna said and winked at him.

  Before he could react, Tamanna’s phone rang. He could clearly hear her telling someone that she had reached Andheri and had parked the car safely. Deep found it strange that she was lying to someone about the location. By now he was completely confused about what was happening. He sensed something was wrong. One thing he was very sure of was that there was no client meeting at all.

  ‘So there is no meeting, right?’ he asked anxiously.

  ‘There is. A meeting is scheduled. The only difference is that it’s not an official one. It’s our personal meeting. Just you and me,’ she said slowing down the car.

  ‘So where are we going? Why did you lie to me?’ Deep screamed. He was losing his temper but controlled himself because he thought that he couldn’t get a better opportunity to talk to Tamanna about certain things that had been on his mind. He quickly changed his tone and said, ‘Even if you had told the truth, I would have come. After all, you are not only my manager but a good friend too. Am I wrong, Tammy?’

  She nodded and reached out for his hand. Deep felt a bit uncomfortable when she came close to him, but he knew he had to bear it a little longer for his own sake. If he would have shown even slight resistance, she could have lost control of the car. He knew very well that Tamanna hated rejection. He remained silent, all the while wishing they reach the destination soon. He was still clueless about where exactly they were heading to and Tammy’s constant touches irritated him. She even massaged his thighs and rolled her fingers over his jeans which made him restless. He was about to scream in anger when they r
eached the destination.

  He read the board next to a grocery shop which said ‘Shiravli Village’. It was a place near Panvel.

  Tammy got down from the car and went to the shop. Deep feared something unexpected might happen and he thought of informing his friend about it, but things were happening so quickly that he couldn’t think straight. Tamanna returned with a plastic bag that she kept on the back seat. Deep tried to figure out what was in it but quickly couldn’t. As Tamanna started driving again, Deep looked outside the window trying to find out where they were going. The car stopped in front of a big gate which had a nameplate beside it.

  ‘Khanna cottage’. It looked like a farmhouse. Deep’s heartbeats increased and he crossed his fingers trying to guess what would happen next. He somehow kept calm as he wanted to make his point clear today anyhow. A caretaker opened the door and Tamanna parked the car inside. They got down from the car and she told him to follow her.

  The sun had set and it was getting dark. The bizzare silence of the small village of Shiravli frightened both Deep and Tamanna. It made them more anxious and impatient, though for different reasons. After being ditched in Goa, Tamanna’s infatuation had increased even more. For Deep, it was like a nightmare from which he wanted to wake up at the earliest. They both went inside the farmhouse after parking the car in the lawn.

  Once inside, Tammy took out bottles of whiskey and vodka from the plastic bag and placed them on the table.

  ‘Tammy, please explain what’s all this? It’s getting on my nerves now,’ Deep said asking for a clarification.

  ‘I wanted to tell you something from a long time but never got the chance to do so. I am sorry that I had to lie to you, but I don’t have any wrong intentions. Please relax and settle down. Just give me some time to change, as I am feeling uncomfortable in these formal clothes. I’ll join you in 15 minutes,’ said Tamanna and went to change in the room.