Expressions

It was early winters in Varanasi in November 2006, when Tweesha and Komal were coming back from their tuition classes. One of Komal’s friend had come in town for a day. He was crazy about Komal and to have that one look, he crossed miles (usually the way people behave when in love), though it was one sided. Komal asked her friend to give company to meet this guy Ravi. Tweesha was naive to all this. Being in 12^th standard, the only thing that she had in her mind were board exams, colleges, results, parents’ expectations. Love was a distant word for which world is crazy and not meant for her. Not then at least. Plus, being the youngest, family had high expectations as she had great inspirations in the family; the bar raised was pretty high on performance standards.

 They went to Archies (a famous gift shop in town) to meet Ravi.

Ravi is already inside the shop. The girls enter.

Komal-“ Hii Ravi.. how are you? Been a while, we’ve met.”

Ravi- “Hi Komal. Yeah, tell me about it..!” ;)

Komal- “Oh! By the way, this is Tweesha. My best friend”

Tweesha- “Hello Ravi. Nice meeting you. Have heard loads about you.”

Ravi- “Same here. I hope in the positive sense!!” :P

After like 2 minutes,  Tweesha realizes that she might be becoming kebab mein haddi..!

Tweesha- “Hey guys, Please excuse me for a while, I’ve to make a few calls. I’ll be back in a while.”

Ravi and Komal together- “No problem at all. Take your time.”

Tweesha wonders what frequency man..!! and the three of them have laugh together  and then Tweesha leaves.

After 20 minutes. Tweesha enters the store and finds both of them chit-chatting and buying crazy stuff for each other. Weird. She thought.

Tweesha knew Ravi is a nice guy and usually hooked up with his books. He’s an aspiring engineer (Yeah, like the dream of every parent of making their son an engineer, Ravi too was trying to make that dream come true.) They exchanged numbers and Tweesha made a very sincere request to Ravi in case if Ravi needed anything, he shouldn't have second thoughts in giving her a call (regarding Komal, as she didn't have a phone then).

Till next month there was no word or conversation from Ravi. He was back in Kota, preparing for IIT-JEE, until it was Ravi’s birthday when Tweesha gave him a call. Obviously, Ravi never expected her call, and seeing her number on his phone screen made him overjoyed. He was happy and excited to get her call and wondered at the same time, why was he feeling like this. As in, he knew he loved someone crazily, and still such weird emotions were taking birth in his heart. He didn't understand a single thing going on. Or maybe, he didn't want to. It was too early to say anything. He was going with the flow and taking it as it was coming to him. It was a regular birthday wish that Tweesha made with all her heart and was trying to get into all the notorious details of how his day went by. (She knew boys are always up to something nasty and so she was making the most of this opportunity). It was a short, simple, and a very clean conversation.

After like another month, Ravi came to Varanasi. This time he came for three months, to appear for his boards and the competitive exams. Tweesha was the first one whom he called and gave this news. Tweesha too was very happy hearing all of it and was more than ready to help him out in of the stuff he needed (he being new to the town). As it was January, she too was occupied with her studies and the stress of boards was no less. Gradually, having a word with each other in the evening, had now become like a daily affair for both of them. From being strangers, they now were real good friends. 

As Ravi was staying with his roommate (to whom he barely talked), the only source of entertainment or the only source to refresh his mind was to hear all the peppy talks of Tweesha. It lightened up his mood and brightened up his day. He was addicted.. to her voice.. to her calls.. to her..  It was the only time of the day when he smiled or the only time of the day for which he waited anxiously. Though he wasn’t much of a talker, yet shared most of the mysteries that he had in his life, his anxieties, his family, his world. It was her and only her to whom he had opened up this much (yeah, none of it he shared with Komal). And this comfort level was mutual. Both of them were discovering each other. Discovering their friendship.

Staying in a flat, eating mess’s food each day made Tweesha feel real bad for Ravi. She stayed with her family, enjoyed the best of cuisines that her mother prepared. Moreover, birthday parties, anniversaries, family dinners never made Tweesha cross the fact about the ones who don’t get this kind of stuff every now and then and how lucky she was. And one fine day, she decided to prepare a dish for Ravi and give it to him at his flat. She prepared chilly paneer. And it turned out to be the best chilly paneer that she had ever prepared (she was pretty famous in her clan for her chilly paneer). Very carefully packed, she gave it to him. After having one single bite, he started praising Tweesha. It was the best chilly paneer even Ravi had ever had till date. He was totally floored by this gesture of hers. Tweesha knew how genuine Ravi was, thought it’s his habit to make others feel special and so he was endlessly making her feel good. It was contentment for Tweesha to see that smile on Ravi’s face. All her efforts were worth it. Later, in the evening, Ravi called. He expressed how blessed he felt that day. No one ever was that thoughtful for him and no one ever did that for him. He was overwhelmed with this gesture of Tweesha and had high respect for the girl. With passing months, they got more acquainted with each other.

Every evening, Tweesha filled him with motivation to study and excel in his exams and became his guru (its kinda big deal when parents send their kids to study further in some strange town and the expectations they have from their children then. The gravity of which Tweesha made him realize. His parent’s dreams, his dreams, just everything).

Ravi had a hard luck with Komal, when he proposed her and she made it clear to him that she thought of him as a good friend and nothing beyond that. She never gave any signals to him as she didn’t wanna lose a friend like him. Tweesha too was on the other hand, had a guy in her life earlier who liked her very much and proposed her long ago. But she payed no heed to his liking. A little later, when she felt a little closeness for this guy, he found someone else. Hard luck for her as well. Both Ravi and Tweesha, were keen on staying friends with each other and discussed all of it way before. With time, exams were over. The results were not what he expected and this led to great frustration in him.

He decided to give it another shot, but more sincerely this time, without any distractions, and so he decided to give away his cell phone so that there’s not a single reason left to blame for the poor results. When his parents reached their native place after settling their son in Kota and started to unpack their stuff, Ravi’s mother found his phone in her purse. She was a little shocked and bemused at the same time as to how come it’s in her purse!! Since he was staying all alone with no roommates, his mother called his friends whose contacts she had with her. When Ravi was on phone, she enquired about what it was all about. Tears started rolling out of her eyes when she found out the reason. She was proud of him. It was a mixed feeling. It was happiness to see what a great job she has done with her son in raising him and a little paranoid as to how he will manage in a strange city without phone. She decided she’ll send it back to him. In the meantime, in the absence of phone, Ravi called Tweesha only on a particular time from his friend’s number or vice versa. It was his friends who started pulling his leg and appreciated the chemistry that they both shared. The moment Tweesha called, Ravi was coincidentally with his friends that time! That’s how love is, I guess.

Due to time crunch, they exchanged their thoughts and whereabouts via emails and sometimes phone. Tweesha was getting every single clue from Ravi that he had fallen for her. And so did her. Yet, when she tried to confront, Ravi changed the topic. He feared losing her. He didn’t want to repeat his mistake and this time he couldn’t afford to lose her. He wanted her to be by side. No matter what. One thing about Tweesha was, she never believed in making the first move. As shown in Bollywood films, it’s always the guy’s thing to propose or do such stuff. While on the other hand, Tweesha was done playing the friend’s role. She couldn’t do it anymore. It was getting hard for her to play dual role. She knew it was a huge risk. Yet, she wasn’t afraid of the consequences. Or rather, she never thought of any consequences. She somehow had faith in her love. True love. Deep in her heart, she knew how deeply Ravi thought of her.

It was August 2007, when it was raining in Varanasi. She was there on her terrace, soaking herself with drops of rain, which slowed down a little. It was drizzling then. Suddenly, she gets a call from Ravi. It was the only thing that she wanted to do then. Talk to Ravi. ;)

Ravi- “Hey! What’s up?”

Tweesha- “ Hey.. Hii.. I was just thinking to call you. It’s raining here and m playing with the rains. What’s up with you?”

Ravi- “Ohh wow..!! That sounds good. I’ve just finished my class. Now heading towards my room.”

Just then, in that particular moment, it strikes Tweesha to say whatever is there is her heart.

Tweesha- “Achha listen! I wanted to say something” C’mon Tweesha, c’mon. Just say it. He loves you and you know this.

Ravi- “Yeah sure. Tell me”

Tweesha-“You sure you’re not busy right now?” Please say, you’re busy.. please.. please.. please..

Ravi- “Never for you. Tell me what it is”.

Tweesha-  You’re a brave girl Tweesha. Say it. Just have faith in him.”I Love You”.

Silence for full two minutes. It’s only the sound of the wind that Tweesha could hear. Nothing else.

Tweesha- “You there? Did you hear what I said. Say Yes.. say No.. say something at least” M blank at this moment. What is it that he’s gonna say? Why is he so quiet? Will we still be friends? Or will we stop talking to each other? Will this proposal ruin our treasured friendship? Oh God!! What did I just do! M so mad at me right now!!

Ravi-“Say it again.. ”

Tweesha- “What?!”

Ravi- “what you just said.. Say it again. And keep saying it.. Please..”

Tweesha- “I Love You. Say something Ravi. M nervous”

Ravi-“I love you too. I love you so much. You have no idea what you’ve just said and done to me.”

Tweesha- “No, you have no idea what you’ve done to me! M so glad.”

Ravi- “I love you Tweesha. And will always do”

It was a bold step for Tweesha, which showed she was strong and confident.

It was from the time when he first met Tweesha at the Archies. The eye contact that they made.. it said something.. that look on her face, the purity in those eyes, the handshake.. Ravi kept thinking about Tweesha for a week.. and then ignored given his state of heart it was then.

 It was pure love for both of them. The understanding that they had, the selflessness for each other, the passion to have each other, running miles just to see each other for mere 2 minutes, the trust, the respect for each other, the faith in each other helped them cross all the boundaries of the world and be together.. Forever.. It was a lifetime of love.. for eternity.

It’s hard these days to find true love these days and m glad I just came across one and made my readers read a beautiful story.

This is my official entry for participating in the #SoundOfLove activity at Blogadda in association with Bluestone.

Source

M sure you guys too must have taken some bold step in your life for the sake of love like Tweesha. Do not hesitate to share.

Happy Reading

Cheers