THE REALIZATION
“Chann se jo tutey koi sapna, Jag suna suna laage, Koi rahey na jab apna, jag suna suna laage”, this was the song SRK sang in the movie Om Shanti Om when he finds out that her love Deepika is already engaged to Arjun Rampal. The song completely summed up the feelings of Ayush. He still loved Jasmine, but it was of no use. In a couple of months’, she would be married to someone else and he would just be one of those “Happy Diwali” or “Happy New Year” WhatsApp friends.
To the best of his efforts, Ayush tried to act normal with Jasmine because he did not wanted to lose her; at least till the time they were in college. A broken heart is the hardest thing to repair and especially if that heart is of an artistic or a creative person. Karanvir tried to cheer him up but it was of no use.
One day Ayush and Karanvir were standing at the college entrance gate. A BMW stopped near the gate. A well-built surd came out of the car. He was wearing a black Armani T-shirt and blue denims. Everybody could see his big muscles in that T-shirt. Top it all, he was wearing a pink colored turban in the best way possible. We guessed he was waiting for someone. The boys were discussing about the model of his Beemer (BMW Car), while the girls were busy chatting how handsome the boy looked. Suddenly, Jasmine ran out of the college gate and rushed inside the car.
Ayush had already recognized the champ since Jasmine showed him her Roka pics. But, as it normally happens, the toughest thing to face is not the bowling of Dale Steyn; it is to face the reality. Seeing Jasmine getting inside the car, Ayush’s heart felt a cut just like the Cut-fries he and Jasmine used to eat at Mc Donald’s. He was burning like the sizzlers they used to eat at Barbeque-Nation.
After seeing Ayush’s face, Karanvir said, “Bro, a girl might eat only few chicken wings at KFC, citing dieting issues, but when it comes to choosing her life partner, then he chose to have chicken buckets and when the marriage is an arranged one, then extra sauce with it is also demanded” And maybe he was right, Ayush was not good enough.
AYUSH STARTS WRITING
“Tootey huey dil se hi sangeet nikalta hai, dil toota hai kabhi, pyaar bhi hua hain tujhe kabhi” these were the dialogues from the movie “Rockstar” when an aspiring musician asks someone how to become a successful one. In the movie, Ranbir became a Rockstar, but only after his heart was broken. Ayush was also passing through the same stage of his life. The only thing which kept him happy those days were his laptop and the MS Word installed on it.
Now, the content of his writings changed. Previously, he used to write about the political scenario of the country, but now the topic changed to love, betrayal and more love. Initially, he used to believe that writing poetry was the hardest thing to write. But, now he used to write poems on love and even uploaded it on Facebook. The poem went like this.
“The words blew like always, the sun shone like ordinary,
The trees stood like nothing is changed, the bird flew as calm as calm as every day,
Nothing changed in the universe it seemed, except a soul, an unimportant one maybe, this soul of mine just shattered into millions,
This soul of mine grieved in the intolerable, incurable ache. The ache of realization that “Dreams hurt in reality”.
How can a person leave such a scar on someone’s soul? This question is gonna haunt me.
Trying to gather my shattered soul back together, trying to get away through the memories, trying to be accustomed to this incurable pain. I took a chance and noticed”
Oh, and the universe seems to be unaffected by my miseries”.
The poem got great response from his friends and followers on Facebook. Soon, he made his own official page on FB, which received over 500 likes in the first week itself. Gradually, everyone in the college was talking about the new and aspiring writer Ayush. Call it the power of good content or the power of Facebook, Ayush soon became one of the most talked-about persons. He wrote quotes, short stories, articles on his Facebook page and soon people enjoyed reading his stuff. They eagerly waited for his writings and views on different topics. Jasmine was also happy seeing the progress of her best friend and was in most of the cases, the first one to comment on his blogs or articles.
Ayush should have been happy. But he was not. He always used to think of jasmine and how his life would have been different if Jasmine was not engaged to that BMW Guy.
Maybe the words came from his inner self and that is why people used to like it. Karanvir knew the reality of his words and feelings and tried to cheer up his best friend. “Bhai, I guess whatever happens, happens for good. If you did not had this phase in your life, perhaps you would not have been able to write such great stuff”, those were the consoling words of Karanvir.
But, Ayush was still hopeful that Jasmine might come back to her. “My story is like a tunnel, till the time she is not married, a little light is coming through the tunnel and I would chase that light till that light disappears and she finally gets married. May be then I would not have any choice, but to accept the fact. I am stuck in that tunnel and there is no way out of it” said Ayush, perhaps still being hopeful that Jasmine might come back to him.
JASMINE OPENS UP
Days passed on. Ayush was still hopeful that she might come back. It seemed as if Jasmine was very happy with Yuvi. They went out together to the most expensive restaurants; most of the restaurants were such that Ayush and Karanvir had never heard of. Karanvir then used the power of google and searched about those posh and expensive restaurants. “Bhai, some of these restaurants have a menu that includes a dal fry for Rs.550 and butter chicken for Rs.1000. Jasmine ne bada hath hi maara hai yaar”. Ayush felt helpless. In monetary terms, Ayush could nowhere compete with this Surd.
Then, one night Ayush received a message from Jasmine, which went like, “I wanted to talk to you about something very important, see you there in the college tomorrow”. Ayush replied back with a casual “kk”. Now what did she want to talk about? May be its’ about the wedding date or about the best honeymoon location(s) or may be something else. Ayush waited patiently for the night to pass through.
“I hate it when you have tears in your eyes. We will find a way out, don’t worry”, said Ayush. Jasmine finally opened up about Yuvi. She told Ayush how mean and selfish Yuvi is. “Pehle kehta tha ki you complete your graduation, then only we will get married. He even ensured me that after marriage, I can continue with my studies, but now his version has changed, now he wants us to get married next month only. Moreover, he has even made clear that he would not let me complete my education”.
Jasmine further said, “I want to study Ayush and you know the worst part is that my parents are also taking his side only, especially my mother is like “aisa rishta baar baar toh nahi milta, shaadi ke baad tuney kaunsa job karni hai, itna paisa toh hai unke pass, kya karna hai padhai puri karke”.
Ayush explained her that it was not only about getting the job, its’ something about satisfaction and life security. “But, jab tak “doordarshan generation you tube generation ko understand nahi karegi, tab tak these problems would persist”, said Jasmine in a tone that sounded really helpless. At that particular moment, Ayush could easily provoke Jasmine against Yuvi and create a bad image about him since Jasmine had full confidence on Ayush. But, he loved Jasmine and wanted her to be happy.
Ayush asked her, “What do you want? Shall I talk to your parents and explain him your situation?” Jasmine replied, “It is of no use Ayush, my parents will never understand. I guess Waheguru Ji yeh hi chahte hain”. Bucket full of tears rolled down from her eyes. To this, Ayush got irritated and said in a firm tone, “It is your life Jasmine, it is you who has to take the most important decision of your life, It is important to take advices from your parents but the decision should be yours. The government gives us the right to vote at the age of eighteen; C’mon Jasmine!! Take a stand for yourself right now, otherwise you will have a lifelong regret.” “But yaar, they won’t agree, I can’t go against the wishes of my parents, they are my well-wishers’ yaar, they won’t take any decision which is against me” said Jasmine.
Ayush replied her, “Dekh yaar, when I gave you that ring, I promised you that I will always stand by you, no matter what the situation is. I will always stand beside you. But, it’s my personal advice that you should at least complete your studies; time is very unpredictable yaar; the only thing which stay with you is your knowledge and educational qualification”. Hearing such great advice from Ayush, Jasmine said, “Yes!! I want to complete my education, but how would I complete it, I have fought with my parents, with Yuvi and he has even talked to his father about it, no one is on my side”.
Jasmine knew what was right for her but was unable to convince her parents about it. Ayush held her hands and said, “Saari duniya idhar ki udhar ho jaye, par main tere sath humesha rahunga. I will certainly find a way to get you out of this mess”. Jasmine was somehow assured that there was at least someone who was standing beside her. The only problem with her was she thought Ayush just as a good friend of her, but for Ayush, she was his life.
ONE FINAL PLAN
So, Jasmine lost and it was decided that she would be getting married before her graduation only. She tried really hard to persuade her parents, but was unable to convince her. However, Yuvi agreed on one condition that Jasmine could complete her graduation after their marriage.
It was Karanvir’s birthday in a weeks’ time. He decided to give both Ayush and Jasmine a small birthday bash at Punjabi-By-Nature Restaurant at Rajouri Garden. He told Jasmine about the bash. As expected, Jasmine told, “Yaar, mera aana thoda difficult hai, us din actually Yuvi ke best friend ka bhi birthday hai; I have to go there with him”. Karanvir told her, “Yaar, you will spend your entire life with him, but this could be the last time you could spend some quality time with us before you become Mrs. from Miss. Koi solid sa bahaana maar de usey”. “But yaar, how can I afford to avoid him? If he comes to know that instead of going out with him, I am roaming around with my friends, he would be mad at me” Jasmine said.
Ayush came in the picture and asked Jasmine, “Do you really want to go with us Jasmine?” He was hoping her to give a “Yes” and so was her reply. Ayush came out with a plan which will solve both of her problems. So, the plan was that Karanvir would act as Jasmine’s father and would call Yuvi, saying that Jasmine has to attend some family function that day and would not be able to join Yuvi on that particular day.
The plan sounded great, but Karanvir came with a quick question, “But Ayush bro, Yuvi would definitely be having Jasmine’s father phone number. So how will we manage to do that?” Jasmine said, “Why don’t you guys come to my home pretending that you have come for some kind of project work and that it is the last day of project submission. Then, I would take my dad’s phone and Karanvir will talk to Yuvi pretending my father.” “When will your father be at home tomorrow? Asked Karanvir. “Either come to my place early morning or late evening” jasmine said.
So, two days before Karanvir’s birthday, on the pretext of completing some project work, both Karanvir and Ayush were standing outside the gate of Jasmine’s home. Jasmine used to live at Virender Nagar and the lane leading to jasmine’s home was quite a narrow one and some Sardar Ji had parked his Black Fortuner right in the middle of the lane.
Karanvir did a smart thing by parking his car some distance away from Jasmine’s home so that they do not have to face the parking hustle. They rang the bell. A woman, perhaps in her mid-forties, wearing a salwar-kameez opened the door. She was Jasmine’s mother. “Oh!! Te tussi dono Jasmine de dost ho; Project liye aaye ho na”. Both Karanvir and Ayush wished her mother and nodded their heads. “Aao puttar ji, aao, Jee Aaya noon!!” That was the common way of the Punjabis to welcome their guests.
Soon Ayush and Karanvir were sitting in the Living Room of Jasmine. It was full of expensive marble furniture and various photographs of Jasmine’s father with different politicians were also hanging there. Soon, Jasmine’s father joined the two guys. He seemed really strict with his beard nicely pressed and the turban tied in a Patiala Shahi manner (as elaborated by Karanvir to Ayush)
Jasmine’s mother told that Jasmine was taking a bath and will join them in 10 minutes. In the meanwhile, Jasmine’s father asked both the boys about their future plans. While Karanvir replied that he would be looking after his dad’s business, Ayush gave the same reply; that he wanted to become a Writer. As soon as Ayush gave that answer, it seemed as if Jasmine’s dad lost all of his interest in him and started talking to Karanvir only. That’s a thing about Punjabi’s, for them the profession that gives them the maximum bank balance is the best profession.
Ayush started feeling a bit neglected. “Agar yeh Jasmine ke father na hotey toh maine inko ek acha sa lecture de dena tha” thought Ayush in his mind and hoped that Jasmine would come soon.
Thankfully, Jasmine came into the room and sat with her father on the sofa which was just opposite to Karanvir and Ayush. She asked her dad that she need his phone for some time as she has ran out of balance the previous night and that it was Wednesday that day and the recharge shop will open only in the evening. Her father gave her a lecture on how irresponsible she was and now with the marriage date coming near, she should actually be more responsible.
She just gave a tight hug to her father and said, “Dad!! Thode dino ki hi to baat hai, fir aapko tang karne wala to chala hi jayega. And waise bhi aapke office mein toh landline hai na dad”. Girls are expert playing those emotional gimmicks and her dad could not say a word after that. He just left his phone on the table and went for his office. Soon the three of them went inside Jasmine’s room for the completion of their “Project”.
Jasmine then dialed Yuvi’s phone number. Karanvir was breathing heavily. One mistake and the plan would be spoilt. But, luckily for them, Karanvir picked up the perfect tone and the accent. The conversation went like this.
Yuvi- “Sat Sri Akal Uncle Ji!! Ki haal ne Tuhade??
Karanvir (Pretending as Jasmine’s dad) - “Sat Sri Akal Puttar Ji!! Tuhade Naal Ik Gal Karni Si, Free ho na tussi?
Yuvi – Haan haan Uncle Ji Bolo sab theek hai na?
Karanvir – Arey haan Puttar Ji, sab theek hai. Gal na is tarah hai ki shayad Sunday tuhada plan hain Jasmine naal kithe jaan da, us din na isdi Faridabad wali bhua de ghar path hai, Te mai chahnda haan ki Jasmine vi saade naal chale us din agar tuhanu koi dikkat na howey te”
Yuvi- Arey Uncle Ji!! Koi gal hi nahi hai, Jasmine tuhadi kudi hai, assa te saare zindagi ghoomna hi hai; tussi le jao Jasmine noo apne naal, Koi tension ni hai.
Karanvir – Thank you Puttar Ji”
Yuvi- Koi Gal Nahi Uncle Ji Sat Sri Akal!!
And then Karanvir disconnected the call. Their plan was successful. In the kitchen, Jasmine’s mother might be thinking that the kids are making some kind of project, but in reality they were talking to each other about random things and what they would be wearing on her wedding day. The mention of Jasmine’s wedding brought a tear in the eyes of Ayush but he somehow managed to control it.
Now, Ayush became more mature and started realizing the things. He just wanted Jasmine to be happy, with whomsoever she was getting married. So, after half an hour or so, they decided to leave for the college together. They all said good bye to Jasmine’s mother and started walking towards Karanvir’s car.
TO BE CONTINUE....
Gurkaran Singh
Comments
Post a Comment