That's The Way We Met Read online

  Published by Random House India in 2012

  Copyright © Sudeep Nagarkar 2012

  Random House Publishers India Private Limited

  Windsor IT Park, 7th Floor,Tower-B,

  A-1, Sector-125, Noida-201301, UP

  Random House Group Limited

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  London SW1V 2SA

  United Kingdom

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  EPUB ISBN 9788184002959

  To my love, wherever you are at the moment

  ‘Love asks me no questions, and gives me endless support.’

  —William Shakespeare

  Contents

  Prologue

  The Story So Far

  The ‘M’ factor

  Mumbai Rains

  A Splashful Day

  Hooked and Booked

  Double Delight

  Jab they Met her Parents

  Mesmerizing Manali

  Seeking Approval

  A Few Things Left Unsaid

  A Secret Marriage

  A Twist in the Tale

  The Saviour

  Can’t Let Go of You

  A Decision is Made

  It’s the Season of Love

  Wedding Bells are Ringing

  Unrequited Promises

  Love is a Losing Game

  An Undelivered Message

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  A Note on the Author

  Prologue

  It was late evening when I called my girlfriend Riya several times on her mobile. On my repeated failure to get a response, I sent her a text message hoping she’d respond in time. But she didn’t. Thinking she might be busy with regular household chores, I put my mind to rest and got busy with work.

  Unable to fully concentrate, I checked my mobile phone again. To my utter dismay, there was still no reply from her. Even though I could sense something fishy, I ignored it, choosing to wait for a few more minutes instead. Placing my phone on the table, I went to the washroom. Suddenly, the phone buzzed. I ran towards the table and grabbed it.

  It was an unknown number. I picked up the call immediately.

  ‘Hello, Riya?’ I said, my voice betraying my growing fear.

  ‘Good evening, sir. We are calling from Vodafone. Your phone number has been selected for a special offer. Would you…’

  Before he could get a chance to finish, I slammed down the phone in anger. My frustration had reached its peak. I wanted to scream my lungs out at the customer care executive, but was not in a mood to argue since I wanted to focus all my energy on finding Riya. I disconnected the call and dialled Riya’s number again, but failed to get a response. Where the hell could she be? I muttered under my breath.

  Left with no option, I decided to go to her flat in Navi Mumbai. I took my bike keys and left home. All through the way, I tried to remain calm, convincing myself that nothing had happened. As I entered the apartment complex, I noticed that her scooty was missing from its usual parking spot. I went upstairs and rang the doorbell. Unable to get a response, I rang the bell again and tried to peek in through the keyhole. I soon concluded that no one was at home and left. I tried searching for her scooty in the entire complex, but was unsuccessful. Throughout my search mission, I kept on calling her incessantly, thinking she might respond.

  Feeling dejected, I was on my way back home when I happened to see her scooty parked outside a hospital not far from her place. I brought my bike to a screeching halt and rushed towards the hospital.

  Once in, I went straight to the reception desk and enquired, ‘Could you please check if you have registered a patient by the name of Riya in your hospital?’

  The receptionist must have sensed something was wrong as she immediately opened the register and started searching for Riya’s name. I tried to maintain my cool even though I was almost in tears. Keeping my fingers crossed, I closed my eyes for a moment and murmured a short prayer.

  ‘I am sorry, sir. I don’t seem to have made any entry by that name,’ the receptionist replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

  I gave her a feeble smile and turned to leave, only to see Riya’s brother walking towards me with a medicine packet in his hand. He swiftly walked by and seemed to be in a hurry.

  Before I could call out to him and ask what the hell was happening, he had reached the end of the flight of stairs leading to the first floor.

  I went to the receptionist desk again to doubly confirm.

  ‘Please, can you check your database again? The person who just went upstairs is the girl’s brother. Which room is he headed towards?’

  ‘Hold on, let me check again,’ she said looking for another register. ‘Yes, go to room number 306, first floor,’ she replied.

  ‘One last thing, can you please tell me who is admitted in that room?’ I somehow mustered the courage to ask her.

  ‘A girl named Riya. Sorry, I missed that entry earlier,’ she said in an apologetic tone.

  I stood there in silence, like the world around me had come crashing down. Was it something serious? Why she did not inform me? My head was throbbing with a million unanswered questions.

  We had made a solemn promise never to cry if ever such a situation arose. But at that moment I felt myself breaking the promise. How could I control my feelings? I wanted to tell Riya that I would give her anything she needed. Hugs, kisses, anything! But don’t meet me in this glum hospital as a patient. I could barely move my feet. What if something terrible had happened to her? I reached room number 306 and slightly pushed the door ajar. My worst fears came true when I saw Riya lying on the bed. She seemed to be asleep. Her mother was sitting next to her, holding Riya’s hand affectionately. At that moment, I was terribly afraid.

  ‘Is she fine?’ I asked her Mom who got up from her chair and looked at me with a sombre expression on her face.

  She remained quiet for a bit. Not knowing whether she hadn’t heard me for real or whether she was choosing to ignore me on purpose, I repeated my question. Before she could answer, I saw Riya make an attempt to open her heavily-sedated eyes. Seeing me, she tried to lift her head up and say something. But looking at the frailty of her condition, I stopped her from doing so, gently stroking her forehead.

  ‘What happened, bachha? I tried calling you so many times. Why didn’t you inform me that you were ill?’ I desperately wanted to know what was happening.

  Riya didn’t speak a word but kept crying. I wiped the tears from her face and calmed her down.

  ‘Please tell me what happened?’ I continued, ‘I am dying each second here.’

  She still remained quiet. Her hands lifted the cloth that covered her body.

  I stopped dead in my tracks. What I saw before me was a nightmare. Riya’s body had been strapped with electrodes and there was an IV drip line going through her wrist. I clutched her hand tightly as tears began to trickle down my cheeks.

  ‘Riya, please tell me what has happened to you?’ I pleaded.

  Before she could answer, a doctor entered the room, followed closely by Riya’s Dad who gave me a look of utter contempt, as is I was a stranger who had barged into their private space. Riya’s Mom explained to him that I was her friend who had simply come to enquire about her well-being. Hearing this, he calmed down and gl
anced at Riya with concern, discussing something in hushed tones with the doctor.

  ‘We will have to shift her to Sanjeevani hospital tomorrow. They can treat her better there,’ said the doctor.

  Her Dad nodded in agreement and went out with his wife to complete the necessary transfer formalities. Left to ourselves, I cast a glance at Riya. Even though her eyes were closed, she didn’t let go of her grip on my hand. I felt insecure. I felt alone.

  ‘Don’t worry dear. We all are with you. You will get well soon,’ I assured her with all my heart.

  Leaving her to rest, I went outside and called Sameer, my close friend. He was the only person whom I could count on in such a situation. I explained to him the gravity of her condition and asked him to reach Sanjeevani hospital as quickly as he could.

  Sameer gave me a call once he reached the hospital. He was waiting for me near the parking area and asked me to meet him there.

  ‘I can’t understand anything, Sameer. I am out of my mind with worry. I didn’t know anything was amiss with her health,’ I said to him as we walked towards the lobby.

  ‘Don’t worry. It won’t turn out to be anything serious. If it was something serious, she would have discussed it with you or at least let you know,’ said Sameer trying to calm me down.

  All the beloved memories from our time spent together came flashing in front of my eyes and I was overcome with a sudden urge to hear her voice, to see her smile, to hold her in my arms…

  Seeing Riya’s Mom come walking towards me, I hurriedly wiped my tears and gave a weak smile, assuring her that everything was going to be okay.

  ‘Aditya, Riya is under strict observation. The doctor has given firm instructions that only one person can stay with her. So I request you to go home. Your parents will be worried too.’

  ‘It’s okay, Aunty. I will wait. I don’t feel like leaving her alone just yet.’ I wanted to ask her what really had happened to Riya, but refrained from doing so as I judged from her tense face that it was not the right moment.

  In my hurry to reach the hospital, I had come without informing my folks at home. Dad was getting increasingly worried and kept calling me on my mobile. Unable to think of an excuse quick enough, I dodged the calls a few times, but ultimately picked up and told him that I was caught up with work in office and would come home as soon as I finished all pending work.

  I was nervous and felt helpless about the situation.

  ‘Aditya, please leave. You can come again in the morning during visiting hours,’ her Mom requested me after overhearing our conversation on the phone.

  Eventually, Sameer and I left the hospital. Sameer tried his best to divert my mind by talking about other, inconsequential stuff, but he couldn’t. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I knew he was pretty tensed as well since he too was a close friend of Riya, but he tried his best to maintain a calm exterior for my sake.

  Sleep evaded me that night. I kept looking at the watch, hoping the sun would rise early. A feeling of loneliness slowly engulfed me. When I finally closed my eyes, I was reminded of our long drive along the beach a mere two days back. I could still feel the warmth of her hands around my chest as she clung to me closely. It had been such a perfect evening. And now this!

  The Story So Far

  The new morning brought with it the painful realization of Riya’s absence in my life. The warmth of her hug, her loving presence, all of it was gone.

  Without waiting to inform my parents, I rushed out of my house and went straight to the hospital. Opening the door to her room, I saw that there was no one inside. My heart skipped a beat. I was already confused after last night’s disaster and this made my situation all the more worse.

  I ran towards the reception desk to enquire about Riya.

  ‘Can you tell me in which room is the patient Riya? She was admitted here last night and kept under intense observation.’ I gave her all the details and waited impatiently while she called someone to check on it.

  ‘I am afraid you are mistaken, sir. We have no patient by that name here,’ the receptionist answered.

  ‘Are you sure? Please check again. I was here last night sitting on that very couch right there with her Mom,’ I said, almost yelling at her, but she remained firm.

  Where could she possibly be? I thought to myself. Have her folks checked her out of the hospital? On an impulse, I decided to go to her home just to be certain.

  I wanted to see her. I wanted to hold her hands and tell her everything was going to be okay. I loved her more than anything in the world and wanted to have a chance to express my emotions at least once to her. I wanted to love her again, wanted to tell her once more that she is mine… just mine, and that no one can separate us. But I felt helpless.

  Reaching her apartment, I walked up the stairs with a heavy heart and rang the doorbell. Riya’s Mom opened the door. She greeted me and went inside the kitchen. I scanned the room quickly, searching for Riya’s familiar presence.

  ‘Aditya, will you have a cup of tea?’ Riya’s Mom asked me from the kitchen.

  Was I up for a cup of tea when I did not know where the love of my life was? I think not. But I politely declined, just wanting to know what was happening.

  Suddenly, Riya emerged from her bedroom in the most nonchalant fashion, as if nothing had happened to her. I just stood there in complete silence, looking at her from head to toe, soaking it all in.

  ‘What’s wrong, Aadi? What are you doing here? And why do you seem so shocked?’ she said firing questions at me.

  ‘I should be asking you the same thing. When did you get discharged from the hospital? And why didn’t you inform me even after I repeatedly told you to do so?’

  She looked clueless, as is she didn’t understand a word I was saying. She came close to me and said, ‘What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘Nothing’s wrong with me. But where were you last night? And why didn’t you pick up my call in the morning?’ I asked.

  ‘What are you talking about? Of course, I was at home last night. When you called me in the morning, I was taking a bath, so I couldn’t pick up your call. And why are you screaming at me? Are you drunk? Don’t lie. You haven’t even noticed the fragrance of your favourite perfume.’

  And then it finally dawned upon me—I had been dreaming! A horrible, horrible dream! I was so deep in sleep that I didn’t even realize that all of last night’s happenings were just being played out in my dream. Was work stress, leading to lack of proper sleep, a reason for my delusion? I asked myself. If I had spoken to my Mom before leaving the house, I would have known better.

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  Goodness gracious! Everything I had seen until now, everything I had visualized about the hospital was just that—a dream. I told all this to Riya, who could not stop laughing at my expense.

  Finally, I took in the scent of my favourite perfume. Her hair was dripping wet. She was in my favourite colour—a red sequinned blouse paired with a black, knee-length skirt, and a bracelet in her left hand. She looked perfect.

  Since our offices were located in the same area, we decided to leave together. I held her by the waist while walking towards my bike. I felt complete. I looked at her—her black eyeliner made her look even more beautiful. She blinked her eyes and smiled.

  There are no words to describe her beauty. There are no words to describe how special she or my love for her is. Putting these feelings into words will mean defining it and that would also mean limiting it. The truth is, there is neither a limit nor a definition for love.

  ‘Promise me you will never be out of my sight for so long ever again,’ I told her. ‘I was so afraid of losing you yesterday.’

  ‘Aadi, not even God can separate us. He brought us together once again so that we could have another chance at love. And I will not let that chance pass.’ She gave me a slight peck on the cheek after which we left for work.

  The sun had set early that day, leaving short our pleasure of watching the fading twilight.
A cold wind blowing from the beach caught us completely by surprise. I could feel the warmth of her body as she clung to me firmly for support on my motorbike. I cast a glance at her through the rear-view mirror and could see the love she had for me in her eyes. I had no faith in destiny before I met her. Riya smiled back at me, her smile symbolic of eternal love.

  ‘Aditya, will you please stop staring at me? Every time you look at me like that, I get goosebumps,’ said Riya with a shy smile on her lips.

  ‘I can stare at you my entire life. You are mine, just mine,’ I said, kissing her hand.

  Our love was meant to be forever and nothing, not even God, could come in the way of that. True love is hard to find, but it’s pure, and has a magical power to it. We fought in our early days, we cried, heck, we even broke up! But our love for each other never ceased.

  My Karizma cruised comfortably along the long-winding road. The moment she kept her head on my shoulders, I could not resist bending towards her. I wanted to spend my entire life gazing at her beautiful glistening eyes, her pink alluring lips, and her lustrous, glossy hair. I looked at her from the rear-view mirror again and saw that she had closed her eyes. Maybe her hectic office schedule had tired her out. It was a weekday and I had picked her up from her office in Malad. We had decided to have dinner together and had singled out an eatery near her house.

  ‘You look tired. Is everything fine at the office?’ I asked her once seated in the restaurant.

  ‘Everything’s fine. I had to take back-to-back client calls today and couldn’t take my usual break.’ She seemed exhausted.

  ‘Oh, my sweetheart,’ I said kissing her hand with affection.

  We ordered dinner and looked at the other guests seated around us. We noticed a couple fighting at the table adjoining ours. I was trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Seeing the couple made me remember my early days with Riya when we would endlessly fight over small things.

  Both of us looked at each other.