The sky seemed to be upset today as if it wanted to say something but could not. Grey clouds were hovering all around. It could rain at any moment! I looked at my watch and then stepped on the accelerator.  I cannot be late today. My car sped over the bridge connecting the two cities where my life was scattered. One city where I lived and the other where I earned my bread & butter , i.e. the city having the High Court of the State!

I parked my car and rushed in with my bag. I had to fill in the place of my senior today. I had studied the case and it was going to be easy. However, I wanted to have a look at the Daily Cause List and be assured of the exact item at which my case was listed. There it was at item No- 9! The caption was ‘Rabindar Batra Vrs State’. Wait, I read the tiny letters under the heading.  M/S Anjali Arora enters an appearance on behalf of the informant by filing Vakalatnama. I read that line again. Anjali Arora…

The name as if rang a bell. Nah… it can’t be her. The world is so big and why would she be here after all these years! Ahhh … why does the name have to be so similar? A lot of memories came flashing on. It felt as if it was just yesterday!

I shrugged myself out of it. I entered the courtroom and sat down while jotting down a few points that would come in handy. I could not help but scan the room to find that familiar face all around. I could not find it. I sighed and settled back in my seat and got lost in reading the pointers I had prepared to defend my client.  The moment my case number was called out loudly, I saw her!! The same glow, the same fierceness beneath the calmness… the same eyes.  It was her ! My mind went blank for a moment.

“Learned counsel for the Petitioner, do you have any more substantial evidence for your client?”  ,the honourable judge asked.

Well, I had everything under control but I knew my opponent too. She was cunning like a fox and I had no intention of giving her any clue.

“I would request your Lordship to grant us a week to produce the evidence. ” I said and then I saw a smirk on Anjali’s face. It stung like a bee bite.

“Ok I see, we have a new counsel here… M/S Anjali Arora appearing for the informant.  So, one week later, we hear this case as per the request from the counsel for the petitioner.”

” Yes. My Lord.” Anjali rose to her feet and bowed a little with reverence.

“The trial court is required to send the latest status report of the case. The case stands adjourned to one week later.” The judgeship dictated and the stenographer hurriedly typed out everything.

At lunch break when Anjali marched out of the Courtroom. I had this huge urge to go after her… ask her everything … but my feet just did not move. They revolted and resisted. The unease in my heart just grew louder. I came back to my chambers but just could not concentrate on anything. I do not know if it was the effect of a super tiring week or it was her. I decided to call it a day and headed towards the café… my go-to place where one corner was kind of reserved for me and it served as a cocoon for me where I could be amidst all yet alone.

“Arey Bhai! Welcome … Welcome!!  Kahan the itne din?” Rahul, the café owner who happens to be my college buddy asked.

“Arey nahi yaar bus thoda busy tha. Tu bata kaisa he?”

“Tera roj ka he …busy rehna! Tu beth, me tera favorite mocktail banata hun.” Rahul kind of knows me in and out.

“Tere jaisa yaar kahan… Kahan aisa yaranaa…” I winked and hummed a famous Bollywood song.

And we both giggled at our signature move which had made us famous as the best pair since college days.

I sat at my table and started flipping through the pages of the book that had me hooked for the past few days. I could not comprehend what I was reading. Something very unusual… given the fact that I was an avid reader!  My mind was stuck on that face and I time travelled … to my college days!  

It was my first day at law school. We had our orientation session followed by an ice-breaking session. I, Rahul, and our gang of boys were upbeat. I was on top of the world. This was like a dream come true.  Litigation was my passion. I was the second-generation lawyer in my family and I had dreamt of taking a step further with law as my wings. My father had already established himself as a renowned High Court lawyer but my eyes were on the apex court of the land!  And this was just the starting point.  I had promised to work hard & party harder through my struggling years.

Dressed in black and white we all looked alike but we boys had scanned through the faces of each and every female classmate.  We were happy that we had such good company. All looked enthusiastic except one. She had a grumpy face. Big eyes, clear skin, long hair neatly combed, and a pair of glasses. She looked serious amongst all of us. She fiddled with a pen and seemed as if waiting for an exam. She was the odd one out. There were many pretty faces but my eyes were stuck at one. She seemed irritated, keeping just to herself and I had a feeling that she was kind of snobbish and arrogant. There was something that pulled my attention towards her again and again. I wondered to know more about her. She introduced herself as Anjali Arora. And I registered it as Double-A in my mind.

The first year kind of flew by but I just could not crack the code to this snobbish little woman! We hardly spoke and every time we spoke, she would just cut her replies to a few words and seem disinterested to talk to me.  This behavior kind of always bruised my ego. After all, I was the most famous boy on the campus! I topped the First-year exam & she ranked second!  

“Congratulations!” She had smiled while saying this to me. Probably her faint smile kind of hammered a deep impact on my senses. Even though I can not say I liked her cold-hearted treatment towards me, I could not stop thinking about her!

Things took a U-turn slightly after this event. We gradually started talking and in no time became close pals. Anjali was certainly different. She had this silent rage within her that kind of resonated with mine. We both wanted to do big in life!  We would help each other with studies and I understood that she had a lot of depth in her silence. She made me feel seen like no one else. But she could turn cold-hearted in no time and I had a bad temper too. And this often led us to fight many times. However, we always came back stronger together.  I was happier with her. Her eyes were my favorite. The same eyes that I had seen today…

My mocktail arrived and Rahul sat across the table.

“What happened to you? Chera kyun aisa latka he tera?”, Rahul enquired.

 “Arey nahi yaar… kuch nahi. Do din se thik se soya nahi hun … Kaam bahut tha.” I replied with a heavy voice.

“You and your black & white world!! Papa ke wajah se Law me admission liya tha maine.  But I was sure I never wanted to become an advocate. My café business is the best! I will recommend you to start something on your own too.”

“Rahul… you know right …it is my dream world. And I love litigation and hence my profession. But like every profession, this too has its sore points. Can’t help it!  I will be okay in a few days.”

I sipped on my favorite drink and fought hard to keep my urge to share everything that was on my mind with Rahul!

After a brief stint at the café, I decided to go for a walk into the market. I needed some fresh air!

 After a few steps… I noticed something! I noticed Anjali. She was walking out of a famous pub in the town. I noticed she was alone and her steps were a little shaky.

Does she need help? What is she doing all alone in the market at this point in time? Is she drunk? Nah… how can Anjali Arora be drunk… remember she never drinks!! But why does it seem so? Should I go over and help her? Why should I? Maybe she is with someone! Well… if she is then why is that somebody not with her? Why is she alone? Will she reach her place safely? Why the hell … am I bothered?  Should I just take the next step and pretend I did not notice her? But how can I? I just saw her … she is in front of me now!

My feet did not listen to the chaos in my head and unknowingly in no time I was facing her, holding her by the arms and trying to help her stand erect.

“Are you drunk?” I enquired.

“Why does your beard look so dry. You want me to moisten it… Manishhhhhh?”

Her signature style of emphasizing the ‘sh’ in my name and dragging it along was kind of our little thing since college days! My heart made a summersault after listening to my name in her voice. She remembers me!

She was certainly drunk. I asked her the address of where she had made the booking of her stay but she just made funny faces. I hesitantly searched her purse and found a receipt from a well-known Hotel in town.  I dialed Rahul’s number and within a few minutes, he was there.

“Tera dimag kharab he kya? Kisiko help kar raha he! Chudail he bhai ye to!” Rahul said hurriedly.

“ Tu help karega ke mein khud leke jaun isko? And ye sab mat bol. Tere ko kuch pata to hain nahi !”

“Ok, boss. I won’t but sahi bolte hein log. Ek ladki hi do doston ko dushman banati he. Par kya karu? dosti jo ki he …. Wait … I am booking the cab. Tell me the address.”

 Rahul & I sat quietly while Anjali sat between us in her disheveled condition. She kept saying something or the other and laughed hysterically from time to time.

Rahul made gestures signaling that she was a lost case and I kept looking at my watch … worrying about when all this would be over.

We both successfully managed to locate the room Anjali had booked for her stay and with the help of the staff of the hotel, we took her into her room. I was about to leave when I found Anjali’s hand strongly grabbing my collar. I tried my best to get rid of the grip but just could not.

“Why?? Why ??? Tell me now … Manishhhhhhh?”  Suddenly she screamed out loud and all of us got jolted a bit. I winked at Rahul and he understood everything.

“Ek message kar dena jyada problem hui to.” He said and left the room while closing the door slowly.

I dialled my phone. “Maa, aaj Rahul ke yahan ruk raha hun. Jaldi me plan ban gaya bas. Tum kha lena.”

She kept grabbing my collar.

“Anjali. Let me go. You are not in your senses. When did you start drinking? We will talk when the time is right”

“Why? I want to talk now. Right now! Why does it always have to be you to decide when it is the right time? Why is it always you bossing around?”

 She looked like an injured tigress. With smudged Kajal and dislocated lipstick, she had almost mounted on me as if ready to hunt on her poor prey. I must confess, I had never seen Anjali like this. She was driving me crazy … getting on my nerves and yet deep down I longed to be hunted by her… be engulfed by the raging fire between both of us!  

But I could not let it happen even though every inch of my body wanted to feel her. The gentleman in me withdrew and I managed to escape the uncomfortable position.  After all, she was drunk but I was in my senses!

“Why … why did you do that? Why … Manishhhhhhh? Why did you ghost me after kissing me that day? Did you think I was a tissue to be used and thrown away after usage?  Huh… answer me!!!”

I closed my eyes listening to the accusation… the question that I never wanted to hear was thrown on my face.

“Enough of your drama now.  You can think of anything you want.  I do not need to answer anything to you… especially to someone who changes her number in a month and flees away without leaving any trace for me to locate you. Have you forgotten that … Anjali Arora??” I roared back.

“Really… it is my fault now?  So typical of you! Why did I ever think that coming back was a good idea? Why did I think that looking at you would not make me nostalgic? Why did I think that seven years was enough to move on and face you like you are a nobody? Why did I break off my engagement for someone who just never seems to understand? Why did I ever bother?”

There was a fire in her crimson eyes that held tears with much difficulty.

“ What? You are not engaged? But I… had heard… something else… I mean… Anjali !!”

“What about you? Shadi Karli he kya? Ya, fir committed hogaye ho…. bolo?” She asked as if she owned me!

“No, I am single. Haven’t been able to commit. There have been many … I won’t lie… they came and went … I pushed all of them away… somehow!”

“Well … you still have not answered me? Why did you do that?” irritation high in her pitch.

I lost it at this point.  I roared back“What do you want to say? We were fooling around in college. A college romance can not be a serious thing. We had our dreams ahead.  Yes, I kissed you that day with passion… I wanted to do so much more …. but I was not sure if that was love!  And to be honest I was not ready for it.  What is so wrong in avoiding things that bother you?”

“Ohhh… avoid … well said… then what right do you have to ask me if I was right in leaving the place, changing my number without notifying you? I did the same thing… avoided things that bothered me!” Anjali said with a tone of sarcasm in her voice.

“You are just the same irritating, arrogant woman I met in college! And let me tell you … you are crossing the limit now!” I said and turned my back towards her.

“Really ??”

Then there was a pause. She did not say anything else. It felt odd and I turned back to see the sight I had never imagined seeing. I could not decide if I was angry or mad or just about to burst out laughing.

Anjali was looking at her watch and slowly counting backward while swaying her head like a small child… her make-up totally out of place.

“Eight… seven.. six… five… four… three… two…one…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY…. MANISHHHHHHHH” She screamed out loud !!!

 I kept my fingers on her lips. The clock had struck 12!

“Shhhhhh… Keep quiet… you mad woman! By the way … you still remember?”

“I remember everything… every single thing. The problem is I could never forget… This unique hair-do that I want to play with, these deep eyes that seem so naughty, and yet I love adoring them…. this heart that is so rigid, and yet I want to occupy all of it ….. Ahhh…I could never move on…  You have stolen my heart for a long time. Just tell me one thing. Tell me once … just once that you do not love me and mean it. I promise I will vanish from your life again and this time forever! I promise.”

 A lump formed in my throat. I held her in my arms … whispered in her ears …

“I do not love you but even then, I will not let you go…do you understand Double-A. You do not know how much I have missed you all these years. You are mine!”

She tightened her grip around me too. “Tell me you are mine and will be only mine. Only then I stay. And yes … this does not change a thing in the courtroom.”

  I laughed out loud. I nodded my head. “Forever yours… AA”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY…. Once again…Advocate Manishhhhhhhhh!!”

She screamed out loud and I could not stop laughing. Probably I got the best birthday present this year!

Love,

Chinmayee