He was despondent. After all, his intuitions were correct. Their relationship had taken the turn he never intended to happen. He had to respect her feelings and still could not commit on any relationship or promise anything he was not sure he could handle. He wanted to be free. He didn’t want to make himself tied down. However her closeness had not imposed any restriction on his life. And his mind more importantly. He liked her too. But… He didn’t want to think of a relationship before he settled in life. He had not thought of that even once.
Even a week after Shweta conveyed her like, he didn’t inform Vinod or Ramya regarding her ‘feelings’ for him. Every time he had a problem he went to them. And he felt he was out-sourcing his problems to them. He wanted to decide on his own. He wanted to make his decisions. At least, try to… Though he knew he needed their intervention, he wanted to challenge himself. More than that, he knew they would never approve of any relationship with a girl. And he didn’t want to stop thinking about that. He liked Shweta. But he didn’t know whether to continue the present relationship or elevate her to be the one to share his life with. He wanted to decide that on his own.
It was May Twentieth. The next day was Shiva’s birthday. It fell on a Sunday. Meeting Ramya and Vinod on his birthday was a ritual. And last year he had missed seeing Vinod as he had gone out of the city for his project work. This time around, being a Sunday, Shiva was happy he could meet them and spend the entire day with them. He had planned for a small party in a hotel. And he was to invite very few friends. After the party he wanted to go to the beach with Vinod and Ramya.
It was eleven fifty at night. Shiva sat in the couch, changing channels in the television looking for something interesting. The phone rang! He was momentarily thrown off his seat. He hadn’t expected the phone to ring. He had forgotten that his birthday arrived in ten minutes time. He didn’t want to let the phone ring for long. His dad hated calls late during the night. He fumbled with the receiver initially and finally picked it up. It was Shweta. She was having problems with her internet connection and wanted Shiva’s help. He instructed her to do whatever he said. When finished, she thanked him and when he least expected it, she started singing the ‘Birthday song’.
His heart swelled with happiness. He expected only two calls every birthday. One from Vinod and the other from Ramya. Vinod had been the first to wish him for six years now. Shweta was the last person from whom he would have expected a call. To be wished on the birthday had not fascinated him much. But to be wished by someone unexpected made him feel good. It made him feel he meant a lot to her. She wanted to convey her like for him in every way she could.
After she hung up, Shiva sat smiling. He was thinking of Shweta. The way she giggled the first time he saw her. The way she walked. The way she appeared pretty to his eyes alone.
His thoughts were cut short by the phone’s ring yet again. It was Vinod this time. He had tried calling at midnight. But Shiva’s line had been engaged. Shiva told Vinod how he was surprised by his first caller. They chatted for a few minutes and hung up. Few more friends called after that but Ramya’s call never came. And to his callers, he informed about the party the next morning. And they all agreed to it. When the clock struck one, Shiva decided he wouldn’t get any more calls and he went off to sleep.
Even a week after Shweta conveyed her like, he didn’t inform Vinod or Ramya regarding her ‘feelings’ for him. Every time he had a problem he went to them. And he felt he was out-sourcing his problems to them. He wanted to decide on his own. He wanted to make his decisions. At least, try to… Though he knew he needed their intervention, he wanted to challenge himself. More than that, he knew they would never approve of any relationship with a girl. And he didn’t want to stop thinking about that. He liked Shweta. But he didn’t know whether to continue the present relationship or elevate her to be the one to share his life with. He wanted to decide that on his own.
It was May Twentieth. The next day was Shiva’s birthday. It fell on a Sunday. Meeting Ramya and Vinod on his birthday was a ritual. And last year he had missed seeing Vinod as he had gone out of the city for his project work. This time around, being a Sunday, Shiva was happy he could meet them and spend the entire day with them. He had planned for a small party in a hotel. And he was to invite very few friends. After the party he wanted to go to the beach with Vinod and Ramya.
It was eleven fifty at night. Shiva sat in the couch, changing channels in the television looking for something interesting. The phone rang! He was momentarily thrown off his seat. He hadn’t expected the phone to ring. He had forgotten that his birthday arrived in ten minutes time. He didn’t want to let the phone ring for long. His dad hated calls late during the night. He fumbled with the receiver initially and finally picked it up. It was Shweta. She was having problems with her internet connection and wanted Shiva’s help. He instructed her to do whatever he said. When finished, she thanked him and when he least expected it, she started singing the ‘Birthday song’.
His heart swelled with happiness. He expected only two calls every birthday. One from Vinod and the other from Ramya. Vinod had been the first to wish him for six years now. Shweta was the last person from whom he would have expected a call. To be wished on the birthday had not fascinated him much. But to be wished by someone unexpected made him feel good. It made him feel he meant a lot to her. She wanted to convey her like for him in every way she could.
After she hung up, Shiva sat smiling. He was thinking of Shweta. The way she giggled the first time he saw her. The way she walked. The way she appeared pretty to his eyes alone.
His thoughts were cut short by the phone’s ring yet again. It was Vinod this time. He had tried calling at midnight. But Shiva’s line had been engaged. Shiva told Vinod how he was surprised by his first caller. They chatted for a few minutes and hung up. Few more friends called after that but Ramya’s call never came. And to his callers, he informed about the party the next morning. And they all agreed to it. When the clock struck one, Shiva decided he wouldn’t get any more calls and he went off to sleep.
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