LOVE (Part 2: A feeling that leaves you incomplete)

Ever since Mac had known Flavia, he had found her to be ambitious, vivacious and positive. Mac never could forget the moment when he had proposed Flavia. She was just another girl in the fashion school with stars in her eyes that had entered NIFT, to make it big some day as a fashion designer. It was on one of the many monthly party’s that Flavia had confided in him. She had expressed to him that she would rather wear some glamorous dresses designed for her in stead of spending hours thinking and designing them for some one else. From that day and thereafter Mac and Flavia kept getting closer. On a Christmas Eve in Goa, Mac proposed to Flavia with his friends in full attendance. On the very next day that is on December 25, 2006 they got married. For the first beautiful night they spent by the beach, Mac and Flavia conversed endlessly and became one beneath the silent skies.

May 12, 2008 Mac eagerly waited for the Cathay Pacific flight to touch base. He was carrying a special gift for Flavia. She had by now become an international sensation. Her very first movie had won 12 Golden Globes. In the Oscars, they ruled. Every newspaper screamed that Flavia’s debut was a success and the movie had put India in the centre of a global debate for being represented as the hotbed of experimental films in future. Mac was enjoying every moment of it. The Indian paparazzi though not strong kept their cameras ready to capture the first glimpse of Flavia. Mac thought to himself, “She was always a star. And I am now a star husband. Wow”. Lost in his thoughts, Mac suddenly got pushed away. The flight had landed. The media broke all barricades. There was a chaos like situation. The gift that Mac carried had disappeared. Before he could go in search of it, he looked at the TV screen which was flashing live images of Flavia and her co-star who was 4 years younger to her. The reporter said, “First they were rumored to be a couple. But this kiss out here depicts the seriousness of the bond they share”. Mac was shattered.

Next day morning, every newspaper carried the same story – Flavia & British born Indian actor Jack Mehta make their relationship official. Mac read through them. One of India’s most prominent news daily carried a full page photograph of Flavia proclaiming in bold letters – I WAS NEVER MARRIED, I AM SINGLE AND HAPPY TO BE WITH JACK. The story emerged like a bubble, the media raised it like a storm, Mac gave up the hope, Flavia signed some more Hollywood films and Jack Mehta went public with his relationship with Flavia, their intimate photographs & secret videos. Three months later, Mac’s body was found hanging from the same hotel room; he had once spent the night together with Flavia in Goa on their wedding day. The filmy scandal seemed to have died a silent death. But Pritish never could get out of his mind.

Pritish Ganguli was going through a rough patch. Mac’s story brought back memories of a past, he had never wanted to imagine about. He was amused by the similarities or rather the situations. He said nothing. He clutched the paper declaring Mac’s death and stared at the four page story for hours. July 15, 1998; Pritish was in a party with his friends. The party was a modest one at one of the finest Udipi restaurants close to Matunga station. A select few of his college friends were with him. Nakul was his closest and best friend. Along with Nakul were Satish, Rageshwari, Adhyuman and Vidula. Almost everyone knew Pritish had feelings for Vidula. Both had never denied or defended any rumors about them. Vidula always was a bit more confident. Her father was associated as an active member with a very famous political party. She was immensely beautiful and a stern believer in Maharasthrian culture. Pritish thought this was just the right moment. After every one left, Pritish request Vidula to wait for some while to give him company for a dessert. Nakul along with Satish waited outside the restaurant. Pritish slowly held Vidula’s hand and popped the question, “Will you marry me?”

Stunned, surprised and speechless; Vidula had tears in her eyes and she just left the restaurant in a jiffy. Seeing her coming out in tears, Nakul was worried and Satish a bit outraged. For days, Vidula and Pritish didn’t speak to each other. One evening, Vidula called up Pritish to meet up. “My father would never agree to this”, said Vidula. She cited reasons of a culture divide. She felt Pritish being a Bengali; she might never be able to adjust. And her father would never agree, who was known to be a bit of a disciplinarian. Finding no way out, Pritish called up Nakul. Satish was a witness to the conversation Pritish had with Nakul and stepped ahead to lend a helping hand. Like a true friend, he called up Vidula and asked her to meet up at the same restaurant, Pritish had proposed her. As planned, Pritish and Nakul joined later. For more than two hours, possibilities, probabilities and plans were discussed. Pritish went home satisfied that Vidula seemed to be at ease. Thereafter Nakul, Satish, Pritish and Vidula started bonding thick. Pritish being employed started getting busier by the day and restless by evening. Nakul got busy with his studies for banking exams. Satish set out on a search for job too. Vidula started helping her father’s political endeavors.

Three months passed away, Pritish and Vidula had kept in touch over phone. But whenever Pritish requested Vidula to meet up, she turned it down. As the time for election of the party president’s post started drawing closer, Vidula continued getting more untraceable. In the midst of all this, Satish had made his way to the good books of Vidula’s father. One day as Pritish waited to grab a smoke by a cigarette shop, he saw a rally passing. Vidula’s father was waiving his hand at people around. Vidula was sitting beside her. In front of the car were dancing two figures – Satish and Vidula’s brother Vishesh. He was stumped by the development. Vidula didn’t answer any of Pritish’s calls. Satish didn’t have a phone. Vidula’s brother Vishesh hated Pritish for being in continuous pursuit of fame. Pritish continued getting restless. Till one day, he stood outside a Cineplex to catch up a smoke. There was too much rush around him. The 3 pm show was over. People had started walking out of the Cineplex. He watched every one around. As he stood their staring, Pritish was stunned to find Vidula boarding a rickshaw. Before he could call out her name, he saw Satish running behind her and quickly jumping into the rickshaw. As he moved back, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Vidula’s brother stood behind him and remarked, “They are in love, and you better make your way mister Bengal Tiger”.

Outraged, Pritish called up Nakul. By a silent lakeside Nakul and Pritish sat speechless for two hours. Nakul finally mustered some courage and told Pritish, “Vidula and Satish want to get married”. Nakul told him how while Satish tried brokering peace between Vidula and Pritish had fallen for her. Vidula’s parents had already accepted Satish as their prospective son-in-law. And Vishesh was too fond of him. Pritish was shattered because he got to know all of this from Nakul. Satish was Nakul’s childhood friend.

“I shall quench my thirst with his blood”, yelled Pritish. After a while, Satish emerged from behind Nakul and told Pritish, “I will die but I will not allow you to ever get Vidula’s love”. In the next three months, Pritish learnt how Satish’s assurances of brokering peace was nothing was just a ploy to win over Vidula. He had fallen in love with her the first day; he had seen her at Pritish’s party. In 2001, Vidula and Satish got married. On Nakul’s insistence, Pritish attended the wedding. On climbing the dais to congratulate the couple, Pritish and Satish came face to face. Pritish said nothing to both. As he climbed down, he heard Vishesh saying, “You know that is Pritish. He really tried hard but failed miserably. I shouldn’t be saying this but I think, I would have liked Vidula to get married to some one like him. I feel so sad for him”.

Pritish abandoned the thought of love while Nakul moved ahead with life. He bagged a prestigious job in a reputed bank. After his parents were certain that their only child was earning well, they found a perfect match for him in Aruna Keny. An engineer by profession, she was ready to accept Nakul as her husband. Nakul never had a scandalous reputation. Clean, composed and in control; Nakul was a happy man. Pritish stood by his friend’s side. Nakul left for his honeymoon after three days. He was very happy about his trip to Shimla. Aruna looked stunning. After two days since Nakul left, Pritish sat smoking and writing about how Nakul’s wedding was a beautiful union. As he kept smoking, he didn’t realize night had ended and a new day had begun. He switched on his mobile phone and received the first call from Satish. He was outraged again. He didn’t want to answer the call but somehow he said, “Hello”.

“Aruna is no more”, screamed Satish over the phone.
“Shut up, you b@#$%”, replied Pritish.

After 24 hours of the phone call, Nakul walked out of the airport and broke down in Pritish’s arms. Aruna had suffered a brain hemorrhage and had succumbed instantly while they were out on a site visit. Pritish cried like a child along with Nakul. Within a span of six months, Nakul’s parents got him married to Kalpana against his wish. Kalpana worked with a finance solutions company. In six months, she turned Nakul’s life into hell. Both filed for a divorce while Pritish stood witness to the hara-kiri.

Stella Roy was the first every Bengali Catholic girl, Pritish had ever met. Pritish was going through divorce and depression. Nakul was going through a divorce. Nakul never went out looking for love. Pritish had found love in Stella. Both started courting each other. But Stella had a past. She was nursing a broken heart and a failed relationship. Nothing mattered, Pritish just wanted to get married to Stella. One night as he was leaving office, Pritish’s mobile rang. The voice on the other end introduced him of being Stella’s jilted lover. He declared of having consumed poison and Pritish heard Stella screaming on the background how she still loved her jilted lover. After two days, Pritish met Stella and bid good bye to her. She boarded the train. She was in tears. Pritish never looked back.

Six years later, Pritish and Nakul found themselves in Goa vacationing together. Both were single, fighting divorce, drinking, smoking and driving. Pritish held up the cigarette, buried it in the sand and declared – THIS IS MY LAST. Nakul never smoked, drunk or flirted with woman.

Pritish arrived home back to his mother. He stumbled across an old telephone diary and fished for Stella’s number. He dialed her residence number. Her mother informed that she was no more staying with them but was now married to Rakesh Lohar, had converted to Hindu and had a mobile number. Pritish called her up to wish her on her birthday. Stella was surprised to hear Pritish speak to her six years later. Pritish never called her up again. Till one day, Pritish sent out a group sms thanking everyone for being a friend and one of the sms got delivered to Stella. She couldn’t control her urge, called up Pritish and both decided to meet up. At Café Coffee Day, Stella sat sobbing over Pritish’s shoulder narrating him the story how Rakesh had turned her life into hell. Both departed on a note of coming together. Pritish found Stella a good lawyer to take up her case. Pritish then took her to the church, where Stella promised to be with him forever. Four months passed by, Stella never spoke to her lawyer and one thing that got Pritish amused about her was Dilip. He was her office colleague. She never had lunch without him and they both exchanged gifts. On being questioned, Stella lost her cool. Pritish chose to remain silent over the issue. Stella’s lawyer called up Pritish and told her how Stella had ignored her phone calls and was not ready to allow a certain Dilip to be cross examined for her divorce proceedings. Frequent fights kept taking place between Pritish and Stella. One fine day, Pritish decided to end it once and for all. A few more months went by. Stella and Pritish got together once again to rekindle the relationship. But Pritish realized how Dilip had gained control of Stella’s mind and life. Rakesh, her husband had long lost the battle against her obsession for Dilip.

Nakul decided to stay single. Pritish seconded his opinion till he came to know about Ishika. He came to know her through a common friend. Ishika had a painful past quite similar to that of Pritish. Very few knew why Pritish’s wedding had failed. The girl he had married had turned out to be a schizophrenic. Ishika and Pritish started chatting regularly. And one day Ishika expressed her desire to take the friendship ahead. Pritish wanted to keep his side clean. He ended up telling Ishika the story of his life. He was deep into a legal tangle over his divorce. Ishika was already over with her divorce. She realized that Pritish being a rigid individual, the possibilities of a divorce didn’t appear soon. Sophisticatedly she started ignoring Pritish and one fine day sent him an sms saying – WE HAVE NO FUTURE TOGETHER.

Flavia was sent behind bars for having posed objectionably for a fantasy magazine meant for men. Nakul’s case was drawing closer to an abrupt conclusion. Stella had finally found true love in Dilip. Pritish had joined an MNC. Ishika climbed to the position of a Vice President in Corporate Relations. Satish and Vidula welcomed a baby boy.

Pritish envisioned freedom. He joined the MNC and was happy till one day he received a call from an NGO. The voice on the other end introduced herself as Shona. On inquiring, she confirmed to Pritish that was her name. Pritish liked her voice and the confidence in it. He ended up not just conversing but promising a certain amount towards the NGO. Somewhere deep in his heart, Pritish wanted to know Shona. He eagerly waited for her call to come. But that never came. So he sent a sms to the number, he had received the call from. Finally she replied. Both became friends. Shona was a dreamer. She was in love, she was in pain and she wanted to get single again. Her childhood love was taking her nowhere and Pritish wanted to just fall in love with her. Finally one day, Pritish expressed himself. Shona being mature lent an ear to him and quietly smiled. They both found each other on one of the world’s busiest social networking sites. And then Pritish came to know about Shona’s sister Prema. Like Shona, she was a dreamer, a lover, a sister and a doting daughter. Pritish kept repeating his request to Shona. But Shona had some other dreams. The age difference between Shona and Pritish just acted as the reason to mark the beginning of a never ending friendship.

Today Shona and Pritish are best of friends. Prema is looking forward to get her book of love letters published, which she has written generously for her boyfriend. Pritish only prays that this friendship never ends. Nakul continues to be single and so does Pritish.

Flavia is now a big name in Hollywood. Jack Mehta is no more dating her. Pritish is sitting on a bench, clutching a newspaper with a headline printed in bold – LOVE IS LABOR LOST. He folds it, puts it in his bag and smiles at the kid sitting by his side. He asks the kid, her name. She replies, “My parents call me Love. What do you wish to call me?”

Pritish looks around and somehow guesses the kids parents. As he nears them, he hears the lady saying, “After three years of love, five years of marriage and a child like Love, you mean to say you love me no more! And now that you have decided to end this, let me tell you I am in love too.”

Pritish realizes – I am single and love did come my way but after listening to this how it just left me feel incomplete.

- vociferous