Keeping the Promises

by Gajjar, Dhruv

“Is it nearby SG road? Angie’s father had an accident; we are at the Cafe Piano-TGB.”

  “Shit! Listen, don’t panic and drive him here. Make sure he remains conscious. I’m texting you the address. It’s just five minutes away from there.”

  “Okay Bhai! Coming!”

  He ended the call and turned to Ansh.

  “Ansh! Go and get my car from basement,” he threw the car keys at Ansh which he took and ran away.

  “Excuse me, sir!” A voice came from behind. Dhruv turned around and saw the doorkeeper standing. “This is the number of that Audi car. The entire accident might have been caught in front door’s CCTV as well.”

  Dhruv thanked him for that but at that time Mr. Shah’s treatment was the first concern for them. Ansh drove the car near to where Dhruv and Mr. Shah were and was quick in opening the back door. Dhruv lifted Mr. Shah and placed him in the backseat, while Ansh remained on the driving paddle. Within five minutes, they reached the given address and saw Dhruv’s brother standing at the gate with a stretcher held by other doctors and nurses. They took charge as he lifted him out and put him on the stretcher. They drew Mr. Shah inside while Dr. Brijesh was standing, helping them to clean up the blood in the backseat.

  “How did it occur?” Dr. Brijesh asked.

  “An Audi hit him on the service road. I guess whoever was on the driver’s seat, was completely drunk.” Dhruv shrugged his shoulder, a wave of nausea sweeping through his head.

  “Okay. I’ll have to inform the police first,” he said and pulled out his phone, but before he could dial the number, Dhruv interfered.

  “This is the car number and accident is recorded in the front camera of TGB. And Bhai…”

  “What Dhruv?”

  “That bastard must not get away.”

  “He will not. Don’t worry.” His brother ensured him.

  Angie and her family arrived at the hospital within an hour.

  “Where is he?” Her mother – whose eyes were still wet and widened by shock – asked.

  “Inside, let’s go!” Dhruv answered and led them inside.

  When they reached inside, they saw a lower extremity cast on his right foot. Mr. Shah was still unconscious. Dhruv started observing everyone’s faces. Angie and her mother were weeping, their eyes moistened and swollen. The rest were just standing quietly. Angie’s Badepapa was looking at him with ignominy. Only then did Dhruv realise that he wasn’t enjoying Dhruv’s leadership for sure. Dhruv somehow ignored him and saw some police officers coming.

  “Where is Dr. Brijesh Gajjar?” The inspector asked.

  “Just a moment, sir!” Dhruv said and asked a nurse to call his brother.

  He came out and shook hands with the inspector.

  “Here are the detailed reports of the patient, inspector! His name is Prasoon Shah and this is his family. You can get further details from them and any progress on the accused driver?”

  “Yes, Dr. Gajjar! He was arrested at Thaltej Circle where he got involved in another accident. His name is Vishal Shah, son of the famous businessman, Akhilesh Shah. He was completely drunk while driving.”

  “Excuse me? Did you say Akhilesh shah?” Angie’s Badepapa emerged from nowhere.

  “Yes, who are you?” The inspector asked. He didn’t like to get interrupted.

  “I’m Prasoon’s elder brother.” He answered and looked at Dhruv with an unspoken indication.

  “Yes, do you know them?”

  “Very well. He is the most reputed person of our community.”

  “We all know about his reputation. He is nothing but just a goon with lots of money,” the inspector snapped at him.

  “Whoever he is, file the strongest charge sheet against him inspector!” Dr. Brijesh said.

  ‘And that’s why he is my big B. Proud of you brother!’ Dhruv kept his words to himself.

  “We do not want any complaint against him from our side,” Angie’s Badepapa said. Everyone, even the inspector was stunned by his response.

  “What? You want to let the person who almost killed your brother walk free?” Dr. Brijesh groaned.

  “My brother is alive. So we do not want any complaints.”

  “He is alive because we brought him here in time,” Dhruv growled at him with anger.

  “And I thank you for that, but our decision is final. We don’t want to file any complaint.” He said with folded hands and clenched teeth.

  “Let me tell you something, whatever you are doing is not going to help him much. He was caught drunk. So he is going to jail anyway,” the inspector said and it somehow pleased Dhruv.

  “Excuse me inspector, I need to go to another hospital. I’ll be in touch with you for further updates.” Dhruv could sense some disappointment in his brother’s voice, as he also had his limitations as a doctor.

  “Okay, Dr. Gajjar. We are also leaving. I think we are done with this case.” The inspector said and snapped at Angie’s Badepapa again before leaving.

  Dhruv again gazed at everyone. Angie’s mother and Angie were crying, just crying. Her Badepapa and Rishi were still giving him that ignominious look. Ansh was standing too, but still as a rock with a frowned face. Everything seemed to play with his emotions – first disbelief, then grief and finally anger.

  “Guys, you are going to succumb to these bastards? You are going to sacrifice each other for people like them?” Dhruv groaned.

  Ansh and Angie looked up in shock, unable to find any words. Angie’s cousin Rishi got closer to him.

  “Don’t you dare to talk about my father like that!”

  “What would you do? And tell me what can you do? Look at me, I’m not Anshul Bhatt. I’m Dhruv Gajjar and you don’t know what I can make out of you. I have been teaching lessons to losers of your kind since very long and believe me, I’m best at it.” Dhruv clenched his fists and shot at him with his eyes. His father probably noticed Dhruv’s red ears and burning face. He knew if he and his son got involved in a duel, his son did not stand a chance. He too came forward.

  “Rishi, let’s go. We will meet my brother after his discharge. We don’t need to deal with these goons. And Angel, if you still want to be with this boy, then prepare yourself along with your father to leave our house.” Both walked out of the hospital tapping their feet in anger. Dhruv stared at Ansh who was staring at Angie. Perhaps he was expecting her to say something. Actually they both were. But all they could see was a girl crying voraciously on her mother’s shoulder.

  “Seems like you both have given up, but I won’t. They will have to pay for this and I’ll make them,” Dhruv scoffed.

  “This is none of your business, Gajju! You should stay in your limits,” Ansh said. The words hit him with a great physical force. He felt breathless, unable to feel his body and a riot of warring thoughts and overwhelming anger filled his mind.

  “Excuse me! Are you talking to me? And what the fuck is this limitation thing?”

  Ansh made an abortive attempt to calm Dhruv by putting his hand on his shoulder, which Dhruv deflected and pushed away before he could reach. Ansh ignored it and continued, “We must understand each other’s limitations, Gajju! This is neither your family matter nor mine. We all should leave them alone. Can’t you see that she doesn’t want us? Can’t you see that she doesn’t even consider our help? And apart from that, we are friends, not each other’s guardians. You are not my father who can protect me from this bad world.” Dhruv wasn’t convinced by any of his words. He was blindfolded with his anger.

  “From now on, you two better stay away from me.” He said before walking out.

  She was looking at me with a stunned face when I finished. I reached for her hand and gently placed it on my lap.

  “Pretty messy it went,” she said.

  “Yeah, it did!”

  “You didn’t mention me anywhere today.”

  “Tomorrow, I’ll tell you how we broke up.”

  “Oh, was it hard to get through?”

  “Yes, it took our seven months away
from each other.”

  “Oh, well, then I hope I see tomorrow!”

  Tears started pricking my eyes as her words punched me hard in my gut.

  “You will. Trust me,”

  She then picked up the envelopes and started reading something from them. I wanted to see what’s inside, but I wasn’t allowed to. ‘May be when she sleeps,’ I thought, but didn’t know what was coming.

  “It says I have to take a promise from you now,” she softly said.

  “I know, go on!” I again bowed my head.

  “Promise me! You’ll never touch these envelopes even after my death.”

  “I promise!”

  And those colourful envelopes remain an unsolved mystery to me. Even today.

  Before I start reading the next part Dhruv sent me, I seek an answer from you. What if you’ve a secret inside which probably can change your life? Which could either be exuberant or malicious? I don’t know if the secret I’m keeping inside of me will bring happiness or loneliness for me, but all I know is that Dhruv is not the only one who’s keeping the promises; I too am. And what I wonder is whether I will ever be able to share it with him or not. Will I ever get the courage to share it with him? What would be his reaction after that? Will he be willing to see me again after that?

  May be…May be not…

  Had it been seven years back, I would know exactly what he would say, how he would react. But now he is an entirely different person – the person who’s my best friend but also a person who does not see his future with me.

  Or maybe he just needs some time, and I won’t mind waiting for him for the rest of my life. Or maybe I would. A thought does nothing romantic except making me dreadful. Fear is a strong emotion – having the ability to conquer trust, affection and sensibility, and to replace them with anger, hurt and bitterness.

  The answer I seek from you is, should we keep a secret from someone we love or not? Even if it can break everything that belongs to you?

  Perhaps I’m not responsible for it; perhaps I’m.

  But not more than my friend…M, where are you? I need your help and I’m coming to talk to you.

  9 February

  I was placing M’s favourite white chocolates on the wooden tray along with some orchids. Mom who was standing there, couldn’t help but smile. We all had our eyes swollen red. They, along with me, had been crying all night long. We even prayed for some miracle to happen. Can miracles happen in real life? When was the last time I felt something miraculous?

  The answer was obvious and easy – when I saw her blue eyes for the first time. Unlike her, her mom had grey eyes, like a Greek goddess. She too, like M, is blessed with mesmerizing beauty and grace.

  I swung the door and saw her sitting on her bed with the envelopes.

  What? She forgot everything again? That punched me hard in the stomach. I somehow couldn’t convince myself with the fact that it was never going to be the same between us, as it was before. I was standing dumbstruck with her snapping at me. I chose to refrain myself from saying a word. After a brief silence, she softly spoke.

  “Are you Dhruv?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I am!”

  “Are you sure? I mean, you didn’t con me into something, did you? I can’t see any reason for you deserving to be my boyfriend.”

  I frowned, stared at my toes, embarrassed.

  “Sorry for that!”

  “Did we have sex? I mean, did you ever get your filthy fat body on me?”

  “No M, I didn’t…get my filthy hands on you.”

  “I knew it. I would never allow a fat pig like you to touch me.”

  I swallowed, unsure of what to say. After all, the person sitting in front of me wasn’t my girlfriend. My M knew me to the core of my soul and I didn’t blame her for forgetting me. Even if I’d been a hundred times fatter than I was before, she would still love me like she did. Once you ascertain love, everything else seems minuscule in front of it.

  “I know M, and you didn’t. Don’t worry!” I softly answered.

  “Now get lost, I don’t want to see your shitty face.”

  This was it. The magical moments we spent for the past eight days had come to an end. This part of her didn’t want me with her. I gently placed the plate beside her and reached for the door. To see my blue-eyed girl for the last time, I turned around and saw her laughing.

  “GOTCHYA!” She screamed. And I sighed audibly and rushed to her.

  “You almost killed me, bitch!”

  “Just bitch?”

  “Okay, sexy bitch!”

  “Just sexy bitch?”

  “My sexy bitch. Okay?”

  “Fair enough!”

  And we bumped our heads in laughter, but not before putting her favourite white chocolates in my mouth and sliding it into her mouth from mine. Her tongue and lips felt tastier than ever; perhaps the prank she played had its effect on it.

  She then, as a ritual, kissed the orchids and opened the envelope.

  Today – since you don’t remember most of the time we spent together – I will tell you about a moment related to this white chocolate.

  One day, we had a belligerent fight over some issues, and you – holding your anger on your about-to-turn-red nose – didn’t want to see my face. For about ten long days, you kept your head burning and rejected all my apologies. On the eleventh day, you agreed to meet me. We talked about nothing that day; neither had you apologised, nor had I. We just sat there and ate those white chocolates I had brought for you. When we finished and I stood up to leave – with no hope of reconciliation – I softly asked you, “Shall we meet again?”

  And, of course with a smile, your answer was, “Only if you bring me these chocolates.” And I rushed towards you and took you in my arms. For the following ten days, we met and without sharing a word, ate these chocolates – while holding each other’s hand.

  She giggled while putting the note down, blessed my lips with the morning kiss and softly said, “You have been a great lover Mithu! And I remember that. Even death cannot make me forget your ‘no apologies’ attitude.”

  I laughed, because that was true…I’ve been egoistic at times.

  On the ninth day after dinner – in which she had our favourite paneer, unlike regular soups – we sat on the bed. The hardest part of the narration was on its way and we both knew it.

  And so I started reading.

  Dhruv woke up, half sleep when he heard his phone ringing.

  “Hello Dhruv? You there?” Spoke Mr. Shah, over the phone.

  “Yes, Mr. Shah! How’s your leg?”

  “Listen to me carefully. Angel and Ansh are together right now. I forced Angie to meet him. Rishi heard this conversation. I saw him and around ten of his friends going out with bats and hockey sticks in their hands,” Dhruv could clearly sense a certain fear in his voice.

  ‘This is serious and above our differences. Move your ass Gajju!’

  “Where are they?” He asked while getting his car keys.

  “At Shambhu’s coffee-bar.”

  “Okay, Mr. Shah! Don’t worry, I’m on my way.”

  He hung up the phone, walked out and sat in his car. Shambhu’s coffee bar was probably twenty minutes away from his house, but on that day it took him merely five to seven minutes to reach there. Obviously by troubling people on the road and by changing lanes swiftly.

  As he reached, he saw Ansh and Angie inside through the glass door, with fear in their eyes. Rishi and the gang were waiting for them outside. The security guard was holding his rifle more tightly than ever to avoid any trouble inside the coffee bar. Ansh and Angie were not coming out because they knew that they were safe as long as they were inside, but they could not stay there forever. Dhruv walked towards Rishi.

  “You better stay out of this,” Rishi stared at him with anger.

  “Do you think I’m going to?” He replied and moved closer to him.

  “Do you think you are going to beat all of us with your tiny muscles?” He r
etorted.

  “Thanks for reminding that I’m outnumbered and I know I actually am. But, I don’t care. Because I’m not going to fight you all! I’m just going to keep all my attention on one person and whoever he will be; I’ll beat him till death. May be, I’ll die in the process, maybe I even survive…which I know I will. So if you still want to try then tell me, who’s coming first? You or some of your punter?” He said, moving even closer – head to head. He was showing courage not because he was brave, but because he had to. It was a risk that he had to take for the people he loved the most.

  “She must come back home within an hour,” Rishi ordered and cringed.

  Dhruv realised that the plan had worked; he did not have to fight them.

  “She will come back, whenever she would feel like coming, and remember, if you ever try to repeat anything like this again, then you and your punters will not reach home on your legs. I can promise you that,” Dhruv’s confidence was on a high node.

  “I will see you.” He said while walking away.

  “You are seeing me right now, this is who I am. If you want to see me again, then just call me. But right now, why don’t we play a game which is called “fuck-off” and you go first!” Dhruv sighed. As they all left the place, he started walking his car. Angie and Ansh came closer to him.

  “Gajju!” Ansh called him.

  “Don’t you dare to call me Gajju, only my friends do that and you two lost me a while ago.”

  “Dhruv, please try to understand…” Angie started saying but chocked in her sobs.

  “Please Angie! I don’t want to be rude to a girl, just back off. You know the person you refused to take a stand for last night, called me to save your asses. That man still cares for you. Your father, he called me. Shame on you two for not having a little courage to stand for what is right.” He growled, sat in his car and drove away.

  Dhruv didn’t head to his home after that; he instead went to meet M who had already reached there before him. It had been nearly over two months after Mr. Shah’s accident that they met each other, so Dhruv was excited to see his blue-eyed girl where on the other hand, somehow, M was frightened with what was coming. As most staff members already knew her, they were astounded with the way she reached there.