'What could possibly be wrong with Rain? And why would she not pick up my call and cut the other line. Unless it's from her parents.' My mind was engulfed with thoughts that I hated. Finally, in yet another attempt, she did pick up my call.
"Haan Bol Ramm..."
"Oye..where are you? Been calling you since morning!"
"that depends...on how you define morning...hahaha"
"hmm..Lunch together?"
"Umm..No yaar..I have to pack my things."
"what? Where are you going? Why are you.."
"Arre..Thand rakh! I'm going to Chandigarh- told you na about my cousin's wedding?"
I just nodded my head to say I remember. I frankly didn't understand why I felt awkward from within. Is it because probably for the first time she turned down my request for something? OR...I didn;t want to fret over it.
I gave her a big hug and kissed her lovely cheek and said," take care Rain, Am going to miss you"
"Ya..I am sure..lol"
I called my dear brother and friend 6 Tonne...
" Abe saale,Ben****...Hai kidhar tu? Zinda hai..I thought mar gaya..."
"You ass**le! Where are you?"
"Ulta chor kowtal ko daante! Kaminey, I am on roaming. Will call you later, ok?"
"roaming? Where the f**k are you?"
"Gujarat- dad's business work. Catch ya later bro..sorry..bye.."
Sometimes you are faced with a situation in life where you have umpteen number of friends and a handful of really close buddies; but none around you when you somehow need them the most. This moment was one of them. I just went back home. I watched TV whilst relishing Chicken Tandoori- otherwise forbidden in my Brahmin household. Times passed by and it was already 18:00. I went to the gym in the basement and showered before getting ready to pick up Riya.
I decided I would wear formal attire. I put on a striped blue Austin Reed shirt and donned a Black Blackberry semi formal coat and trousers to go with it. The signature Azzaro perfume again, and black Moreschi shoes, I was all ready for another date. I took Dad's Merc to pick her up. As I waited leaning proudly against the sedan, I saw Riya coming out of her apartment in a stunning Orange Silhoutte Tank Asymmetrical dress. The neck was just low enough to drop jaws wide open, but not slutty at the same time. The dress was just a couple of inches above the knee. The dress hugged her tender narrow waist.
I took her hand and kissed it like a typical gentleman. She just smiled. I surprised her by parking my car at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower.
"But we were to.." I just leaned over and kissed her to prevent her from saying anything. Wow! This was like in the movies!
We walked hand in hand as I guided her to the SOUK-One of the finest places I have dined at. We loved the Sheesh Touk, even as we relished on many other types of Kebabs recommended to us. All this rich food along with Dom Perignon! Sure this is the most I had ever spent- splurged would be the correct term. But while I watched Riya close her eyes enjoying the Bakhlawa, I thought of the dessert that lay in store for me.
We wasted not much time in getting home, and even lesser time to find our way to my bedroom.Her Silhoutte Tank dress lay in the arms of my Blackberrys, just as we lay in each other's arms. My Azzaro, rather a million of them were no match for the scent of this woman. I never felt so intoxicated.
"Dil TOh PAgal Hai..." That was my special ringtone for Rain. But how? I checked the time- 01:30- its not that she doesn't call this late, but this time, her timing wasn't as good. I picked up anyways.
"Yes Rain..."
"KYA Kar Raha HAi??" She whispered.
"Err...nothing yaar..you reached safe?"
"yaa, that's how I am talking to you na dumbo!"
"Ramm..who's it?" Riya called out.
"You are with someone?"
"Err...Umm.." I just blabbered.
"Ok Ok...Um...Enjoy...Call you tomorrow.." And Rain just hung up. Something didn't happen right.
'RAMM"
"Coming..."
"who was it?" She asked when I joined her in bed. I just started caressing her to avoid eye contact and said "My friend yaa..Renu"
"Oh..your Rain?The one who misses you? (She giggled saying that)"
"You know what I am missing now?"
"What?..." She realised..she tried to escape the bed..not really...but love making is not fun without these games. I couldn't believe I used the word love making even in my mind.
That night was just one of the many moments we spent together. Tonne was in Ahmedabad and Rain in Chandigarh. I never missed mom dad, for Riya moved in quite a few of her dresses in my room. It was almost a live in. Till one day...that dreaded day..
Riya didn't call me for two days. 48 hours of separation seemed unbearable! Her cell phone was switched off as well. I finally decided to let go of my ego and went to Riya's house. I just parked my bike outside her gate and was about to go in when I realized- I didn't even know which floor she lives on! I asked the watchman;
"Riya madam kaunse floor pe rehti hai?"
"Riya madam?? Kaun Riya Madam?"
I was a bit taken aback. Maybe he was new. "Arre, woh hai na, beautiful si, ek room mate ke saath rehti hai...Aanchal.."
"Saab, Yahan koi Aanchal ya Riya nahi rehti..."
"Arre..I picked her up from here many times...Kya bakwaas karte ho?"
'Ajeeb aadmi hai..Kuch pata nahi aa jaate hain kahi se bhi" he murmured to himself.
What was happening? Why wasn't the watchman recognising her? I was damn sure I picked her up from the same place. Unless I was seeing things...imagining things...Oh My God..Nothing could have gone worse! No Riya- if she existed- No Rain- No Tonne...I was left all alone in the middle of the desert!
A whole fourteen days later, 'Riya' called. I let the phone ring at least 11 times as I saw her name flash. I was simply exasperated by the turn of events. Finally, I picked her call...
"Hel'low? Ramm...Please talk to me sweetheart. Let me explain. Please, can I come in?"
"what do you mean by come in?"
"I am at your door. Please let me come and explain."
Whatever made me open the door, I don't know. But in hindsight, I should have asked her to go away that moment. She came in. She was wearing a sleeveless pink Punjabi Salwar Kameez. I stood in front of her with folded hands, my eyes showering a volley of questions at her.
"Ramm..I..I'm sorry..I"
"Why did the watchman at the gate not recognize you? Why did he say you don't live there?"
She took a deep breath and sighed. She looked down as she answered: "Ramm, I do live there. But my name is not Riya, so he didn't recognise me."
"W.H.A.T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I felt like being caught in shelling fire.
'Look Ramm..you.you may not forgive me. But I couldn't have trusted anyon with my real identity. Still, there was some force that attracted me towards you, so I took the risk of meeting you. I do like you. And enjoy being with you. But..let's admit it. You really are in love with your Rain. She calls, then you talk about you and Rain ki kahaani for minutes..hours at times. You left me alone in the bed to console her over a stupid issue.."
"it wasn't a stupid issue Rain..i mean..Riya.."
"See..."
"But where were you these days?" I aksed, still wild at her.
"US- I got a call from a University for the final interviews. I stayed over there then with my Uncles.And.....I got selected..I..Ramm.."
"And more importantly, if you are not Riya, what's your name?"
"Wafa..Wafa Khorakiwala. This time it's true. One hundred percent."
Riya ..Sorry..Wafa left soon after. I tried my level best to get in touch with Rain. I realized of all the lies this wafa thing spoke, this was true- I probably did like Rain. But Rain, being busy with the marriage ceremony of her cousin, didn't have the phone with her. I missed her, and I texted her that.
If you have been reading this, kindly read the Epilogue.
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