Aryan

Present

There is something about the month of April, not because its my birthday month............not that I care about birthdays........I stopped caring about them after I turned 10 or maybe 7, something like that..........April marks the beginnings..........financial year..........new season............course openings.............and start of insane summer in Delhi, I am particularly not a fan of summer but like it better than gloomy and lethargic winters, the flowers on our property in Dehradun would bloom to its fullest at this time and Mom loved gardening............Mom............she loved flowers. Since it's the month of beginnings I thought what great time to begin our story than now..............the story of love that will eventually turn into hate!

I thought I would just bump into her and maybe take it from there but I know it won't work with her, she is too attentive and alert. Maybe try to befriend her by occasionally going to that bookstore she frequents to, but I know nothing about books and that place is filled with reading addicts, I am sure  they will sniff me out as the odd one. So I thought I will test the waters with tele-contact first, I mean................I have her number, actually I have all her information, even more than she knows about her own life, I even got her a new place to move in by coaxing the property agent she contacted for moving places, I got it for her at 40% cheaper rent than market value because I am footing rest of the rent but I needed to make sure she lives there, flat above my newly rented studio apartment, well! technically the building is owned by my father so it was easy anyway and it was the only property within our company portfolio that was at least distance from her workplace and allowed a 6 month lease as compared to 12 months for most of the properties. Since the proximity issue is solved, I have to prepare for my first contact with her, till now we have not even walked passed each other in the same building as our schedules are different but I need to make sure we do and soon.

Ans what do you know..............sometimes the universe just aligns with your wishes.................and here she was at my apartment entrance..............awkwardly smiling.

Door bell rings and after 6 mins the doors opens............................

ANAYA : Hi..........Sorry to bother you..........I think your house help has mistakenly received my parcel, the delivery person messed up and delivered a floor below, Could you please check once?

ARYAN : Oh! Yeah........Sure! Just given me 2 mins.....I will scan thorough........you can come in if you like..........

ANAYA : NO.....Thanks.......I am good here!

It was entertaining how she was thinking so much before even ringing the doorbell second time.........it took me a while to respond as I was just amazed to see her the first time the bell rang...............even scared! I thought maybe she.............she knows! But that cannot be! Well! thanks to the lady who cooks and cleans for me, I do not have to plan the first meeting..........MENTAL NOTE : Give Aarti a good allowance next month.

ARYAN : Here......it is! Your name............It's Anaya?

ANAYA : Yes........Thanks a lot! Sorry to disturb!

ARYAN : No problem! It was nice to meet you, recently moved?

ANAYA : Oh! Yes.......It's just been about a week................ahhhmmm.........Ok!! Thanks again!

ARYAN : Sure! Bye! See you around!

Door closed..................................

Another freaking book! How much does she read!!!!

That went smooth......I guess!!........She did not react in the manner I anticipated, I mean I don't know what I was expecting but...............she did not seem to care. I think following her around had made me so aware of her that I was almost scared to actually meet her like that.......upclose and personal. I think it went well!................If I had pushed the conversation anymore she would have been put off. Now I just need to maintain this pace and create an impression but I cannot spend too much time on it as she is planning to move soon..............and move too far. When asked why she was asking for 6 months lease, she mentioned her plan to move abroad in September and hence wanted a shorter stay period with no hassle to look for replacement as such. So, I pushed my PI and gather  information about the same and got to know about her upcoming professional fellowship in Germany. So now I cannot take it easy, not that I was going to but now I have to double the pace of my plan to make sure she is here.....................her with me and here to make sure he knows...............I am sure he knows as well........there is no way he won't! and I am sure he is furious about her move to my building................ it's only a matter of time before he comes after me and this time it might get rough! 

My classes keep me busy half of the day, so I only get few hours to focus on my plan............to focus on her.............I really do not know how to break her walls! How do I even make her look at me apart from casual "Hi" that we started in elevator or building entrance, She just moves past me like I am a tree on a road. But like I said, the universe is aligned and playing to my tune. As I was leaving for my classes in the morning I found him leaning on my car in the basement. Now..........Its getting more interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!

VIKAS : Good Morning!

ARYAN : To what do I owe this pleasure?

VIKAS : Ha........Funny! Can we talk?

ARYAN : I have a class at 10, I need to leave now!

VIKAS : serious about studies........Nice! I wonder how do you manage so much........MBA program.........being a fucking stalker.............is'nt it too much?

ARYAN : Wow.........That is a heavy accusation! I never stalked her.............I am just quietly following her...............and with respect to my studies..............you know I have always been an over achiever.............So do not worry! I will successfully manage both....................my studies and my lover!

VIKAS : Your what??...........Are you out of your mind? She does not even know you...........

ARYAN : That is not true.......she does........Infact we greet each other every morning..........now that I have aligned my schedule with hers to make sure that I start my day by seeing her.............everyday......... here..........and you know what...........she does not look happy or even comfortable when you hound her! So I think the problem is you not me and for all you know...........I might actually be her type!

VIKAS : Are you done? I do not have time for this drama! Just tell me if you have.................Does she know you are Shefy's brother?

ARYAN : Why? What does that change?

VIKAS : So No!!! Fine.........It was nice to see you today...........Take good care of yourself! You do not know what might happen............you know!..............Take Care!

ARYAN : That was a bland threat! I thought you are here to physically assault me or something but anyway you gave me a good idea today, I should introduce myself as Shefy's brother.............maybe she would be happy to know that!!! I can earn some brownie points..........and even more so.............I can help her know the truth if she is interested...........you know..........in case she is curious about how shefy' life was ruined by you and ultimately ended by you!

VIKAS : Sure! Be my guest! Just a fair warning! They were not friends so there is a fair chance your little plan is gonna backfire and stop deluding yourself with unrealistic theories............I have nothing to do your sister's untimely demise.

ARYAN : Theories!!!..............That's strange because her mobile phone narrates a different story! The text messages between you and her..................It reveals everything............everything I need to know and you might want to forget!

VIKAS : What!.........Stop lying! Her phone was damaged in the accident and even if it was not there's nothing there.....................So stop this non-sense! 

ARYAN : Hmmmm................You seem a little scared! Fine!.............Maybe I was bluffing! Or maybe not..........maybe she had another phone with chat accounts synced............or..............maybe not! Anyway...............I have wasted too much of my time.........I am getting late! I guess I will see you around! BYE! TAKE CARE!!!!

Interesting!!!!!..................He looked surprised but not scared..........well! It was a start! I will make sure he looses his smug smile for good. I pulled the phone from pocket..............it's cracked.........should I repair it?...........maybe later!..............She loved this phone........the colour........lavender.........she got this 5 months before her accident, she sent me the image and I laughed...........who gets this color, I thought!............and then she broke it two weeks prior to that day, I do not know how! she is usually carefully with her stuff............she got a new phone but kept this one............she never keeps old phones but she kept this one and I am glad she did or else I would have never found this in her cupboard while sorting her stuff after the funeral. Later I asked my friend to retrieve all the data from the phone and went through everything..............her mails...........her pictures (196 images of that bastard).............and her messages...............my  world came crashing down when I read her messages...............her desperation...........her agony and....................... her cry for help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!