The door bell rang. Shilpa, sobbing as ever, got up to open the door. She was crying since last yesterday. She had a big fight with Aneesh, the guy she was in a relationship with for 8 years over some decisions of future which either of them weren’t agreeing to. Although the decisions to be taken were straight forward, they did have a direct effect on the way both of them had perceived their married life to be.
The argument grew and went totally out of proportion eventually leading to a thought of breaking up for the better. This dented Shilpa bringing her to tears, which haven’t left her eyes ever since their arrival.
The door bell rang again. She had to clean her face thoroughly to remove any signs of the sadness that was on it just a few moments ago. Once she was prepared to face whosoever was at the door, she turned the latch.
As soon as she got a glimpse of the person who was waiting to come in, she couldn’t hold her tears back. It was Aneesh. All the emotions of yesterday which she thought had drained off with the tears came back.
Aneesh: “Can I come in? I think we need to talk”
Aneesh, who is usually neatly dressed, was looking bit ragged in his outfit. Clearly a sign of how much he also was affected by yesterday’s fight
Shilpa: “Yes..” she squeaked while trying to control another round of uncontrollable tears
Aneesh entered and sat down on the sofa. After closing the door, she also settled down emotionally and found a place on a sofa chair near to Aneesh.
Aneesh: “Love, I know what happened yesterday was not right. So what if we had a disagreement but that shouldn’t have caused us to end something which is so beautiful? Something which we have treasured and dreamt about for the last 8 years?”
Shilpa: “I know Aneesh. But we want different things. Just that we didn’t realize this earlier……”
Aneesh: “Agreed Shils. But considering that we knew each other for so long, I think we should have found a common path for us to work this out. You know how passionately I think about our future. You know that our future has always been the pivotal point over which all my plans/activities have revolved right?”
Shilpa:”Ani, I know. I understand. But I was scared. I don’t want us to end up in a tough spot in the future. That’s what I wanted to tell you since long!”
Aneesh:”We wouldn’t have ended up in a tough spot. Both of us were well off. You personally had a lot to look forward to. Now, that I think about it, I feel that you should pursue your dream and during the course of that pursuit, find ways to ensure that your love ones are taken care of and are secure.”
Shilpa:”Its easy to ask me to pursue my dreams but you know every well that it wont be possible if I get married to you”
Aneesh:”That should not be a problem. I wont pressure you to marry me now. You can complete your thing 1st. Remember dear, no matter what you do and how you do it, I would always love you and be there with you. I would want you to ensure that your life is set before you get married”
Just as Shilpa was going to say something, her cell phone rang. However, there was something different about the ring. She went inside the room to closely hear the ring tone. That was the time she realized that it was infact Aneesh’s ringtone!! Bit annoyed, she came out and looked around but no one was there. She picked up the call. The voice from the other side destroyed her completely.“Madam, I found this phone next to your friend. He has met with an accident and in his last few dying moments, he wanted to talk to you. Are you his family?”
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Last Phone Call
A cell phone rings. We fade in on the cell phone light which can be seen coming from the pocket of a young man who seems to be enjoying his sleep on a garden bench. However, the buzzing and the ringing of the phone broke his sleep and compelled him to answer the ring.
The caller: “Happy Birthday Arjun! Wake up! It’s your birthday. 25 years ago, around 4 hours from now, you made your way into this world. How does it feel Arjun? How does it feel to share your birthdate and time with the 1 person who ensured your existence in this world? The 1 person whose name you take in 1 form or the other and whose word you abide by? Well Arjun, this is your lucky day, you are going to meet him today!”
Arjun: Hello!! Who the hell this is! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Caller: Now now Arjun, do not work yourself up. You do not want to meet your God early do you?
Arjun (in a scared tone): What?? What are you saying??
Caller: hahahahahah. I am merely saying what you are destined to be! You are destined to meet the person whose number is all over your birthdate!! Yes Arjun, you have a date to keep. A date with god!!
Arjun: Oh no..no non no no n o !
Caller: Don’t deny that you cannot negate. However, as I would eventually step into God’s shoes, I should show some of his world renowned mercy also! As it is now, you have a small needle placed in your lungs! Any heavy breathing, friend, and you would be as flat as a punctured tyre! However, that is not the only problem you have got on your hands. A couple of kilometres away from the park, we have your girlfriend hanging upside down and tentatively scheduled to be submerged in acid!! You can save her though. All you have to do is cycle your way down to the shop and have your love! Would you do it? Do it for your love? Location is mentioned on the cycle handle. You have 30 mins. Please try not to be late! – The call disconnects!
Arjun: Hello!..ahhh. (now shouts)..helllllllllloooooooooo.ahhhhhhhhhhh
Thoughts and sweat both running fast all over Arjun’s head! All he had to do was to cycle all his way to his girlfriend and she would be safe. However, now he realized the catch. The 2 km stretch was a ride up the hill!!!
Mustering all his courage he started peddling up the hill. He could feel the needle, teasing the side of his lungs with every breath. The feeling of being slowly peeled open was gripping him. By the time the 1st km was over, the needle did the job it was kept in for! It pierced his lungs!
Arjun collapsed on the ground. He knew his time was up! However, he had to get up! He had to save his girlfriend! He got up and with awesomely great difficulty he made his way to the top of the hill and entered the house where his beloved was kept. Opening the door, he collapsed. Too much internal injuries had caused him to be on the verge of death!
He looked around! He couldn’t see anyone. Just then, his phone rang again!
Caller: Do you think I am barbaric? How could you even think that I would harm someone not born on the 7th of July? Good night my friend, may you give the God company he needs during his retirement!hahahahahah – Chunk. The call as well has Arjun’s last few breaths are cut!
The caller: “Happy Birthday Arjun! Wake up! It’s your birthday. 25 years ago, around 4 hours from now, you made your way into this world. How does it feel Arjun? How does it feel to share your birthdate and time with the 1 person who ensured your existence in this world? The 1 person whose name you take in 1 form or the other and whose word you abide by? Well Arjun, this is your lucky day, you are going to meet him today!”
Arjun: Hello!! Who the hell this is! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Caller: Now now Arjun, do not work yourself up. You do not want to meet your God early do you?
Arjun (in a scared tone): What?? What are you saying??
Caller: hahahahahah. I am merely saying what you are destined to be! You are destined to meet the person whose number is all over your birthdate!! Yes Arjun, you have a date to keep. A date with god!!
Arjun: Oh no..no non no no n o !
Caller: Don’t deny that you cannot negate. However, as I would eventually step into God’s shoes, I should show some of his world renowned mercy also! As it is now, you have a small needle placed in your lungs! Any heavy breathing, friend, and you would be as flat as a punctured tyre! However, that is not the only problem you have got on your hands. A couple of kilometres away from the park, we have your girlfriend hanging upside down and tentatively scheduled to be submerged in acid!! You can save her though. All you have to do is cycle your way down to the shop and have your love! Would you do it? Do it for your love? Location is mentioned on the cycle handle. You have 30 mins. Please try not to be late! – The call disconnects!
Arjun: Hello!..ahhh. (now shouts)..helllllllllloooooooooo.ahhhhhhhhhhh
Thoughts and sweat both running fast all over Arjun’s head! All he had to do was to cycle all his way to his girlfriend and she would be safe. However, now he realized the catch. The 2 km stretch was a ride up the hill!!!
Mustering all his courage he started peddling up the hill. He could feel the needle, teasing the side of his lungs with every breath. The feeling of being slowly peeled open was gripping him. By the time the 1st km was over, the needle did the job it was kept in for! It pierced his lungs!
Arjun collapsed on the ground. He knew his time was up! However, he had to get up! He had to save his girlfriend! He got up and with awesomely great difficulty he made his way to the top of the hill and entered the house where his beloved was kept. Opening the door, he collapsed. Too much internal injuries had caused him to be on the verge of death!
He looked around! He couldn’t see anyone. Just then, his phone rang again!
Caller: Do you think I am barbaric? How could you even think that I would harm someone not born on the 7th of July? Good night my friend, may you give the God company he needs during his retirement!hahahahahah – Chunk. The call as well has Arjun’s last few breaths are cut!
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