New SS: Love.... Pt33B pg143 13/07 - Page 25

As days passed into weeks, Ishita became a zombie-sans human flesh devouring part. She began losing interest in everything... food, books, even movies! No company was spiriting enough and her ten hour sleep was down to seven.

Constant bings on chocolates and ice-creams became a way of life. Every sunset seen through the pollution-laden air, brought a sigh to her lips. Her heart always skipped a beat at the sudden jangle of the phone and the brief moment before the email inbox popped open.

If I tell anyone, I'll surely be committed,' Ishita agonised, lying prone on her bed.

Ishu you weirdo, where are you?' shagun's voice resounded outside her door. Like a banshree, ishita streaked across her room. The relief to her malady was here.

I'm so glad you're nace! What took you so long... you bitch!?' she fired, almost lifting shagun off her feet.

Hey! Get off me! I was gone for mere three weeks,' said shagun, glowing fresh on her return, from a family vacation on Europe. Shags, I think im seriously ill! Something is really off women!' ishita pulled the other girl ind=side her room, firmly bolt8ing the door behind them.

You're pregnant!' Shagun teased.

Shut up! I'm no kunti, I have to have sex first. Something really freaky is happening!' ishita literally shewed her nails.

Freaky how?' shagun asked, sprawling on the love seat near the window.

I cant sleep!'

Take sleeping pills.' Shagun shrugged her sandals off.

I don't feel like eating anything.' Ishita paused and then said, Just colossal amounts of ice creams and chocolates!'

Shagun sat up. Hold on! What kind of music have you been listening too?'

Self-consciously, rubbing an ear, Ishita's answered, Ghazals and love songs!'

Not eating, not sleeping, listening to sappy songs... anything else?' Shagun grilled, counting the symptoms off her fingers. Her face bunched as she rested on the verge of a momentous discovery.

I knd of feel jittery whenever the phone rings.'

Oh gosh, this is serious babes!'

What is it? Dish ASAP!'

Where are the DVDs you recently bought?' Shagun asked, abruptly changing the topic.

Bewildered, Ishita indicated the almirah on the other side.

Shagun quickly opened it. Letme see! Where are you hiding?' she murmured, running her seeking hands over the DVD covers. Got it!' she exclaimed, holding one up.

Ishita crouched forward, Bridget jones's diary! Are you loco (insane in Spanish)? What does that movie have to do with me?'

Watch and learn child, watch and learn!' inserting the DVD, shagun quickly forwarded it to the part where Mark Darcy leaves for the US of A. the left behind, yearning Bridgget sometime gazes miserably out of the window and at other times consumes an entire fridge, ot nervously answers the doorbell. All this while, sappy sings strum in the background.

Shagun halted the movie and asked, Bimbo now do you get it?'

What rubbish! I am not pining for Colin firth or Mark darcy. You are such a gadheri sometimes."

Shagun tapped her knuckles hard on Ishita's head. You fool, of course you are not pining for colin firth. You are pining... period. Spill it out who are you thinking of?'

No one!' ishita chimed quickly... too quickly.

Don't lie to me Ishu. Puke it out right now!'

ishita clenched her lips and shook her head, resolute. This secret was going with her to her grave.

Okay, if you don't tell me right away, I shall go down and talk to your folks. Tell them itty-bitty detail, and my own very astute conclusions,' shagun threatened. She rotated and began walking in slow motion, in the direction of the door.

Her hand had barely grasped the knob, when ishita softly confessed. Raman'

Shagun flabbergasted, spun back. Ishita sat doubled over the bed, her head thrust in the pillow.

Raman, Raman bhalla?' shagun screeched.

The head in the pillow bobbed, tentatively once and then fiercely, several times.

Kulta, couldn't you fall for someone in your college, or you neighbor or even your doodhwala? Why Raman Bhalla? He's so bloody out of you league,' shagun voiced, amused and astonished.

Raman is my neighbor!' ishita reminded, miserably.

Jahaan panha, neighbours on the other side. Not the globally-mosy-elihible-bachelor-kinds. Does Raman kown?'

Are you insane?' came ishita's muffled reply.

Do you think he might feel the same?'

ARE YOU INSANE?' ishita repeated her words, finally getting up to face her friend. He treats me like a complete idiot; brainless wonder' was the most recent compliment.' Ishita's face reflected despair.

Shagun sat down next to ishita and put her arm around her. Ishita gave her small smile.

I have a solution,' shagun said.

What?'

Get away from him. Migrate to a country with only burkha clad women. That's one place raman is never coming!' said shagun smiling broadly.

very funny! Anyway, he is not here. He is gone for three- four months.'

So that is whne our local laila realized her one-sided love.'

Shut up!' ishita snapped, and the poured, The other day, badi maa mentioned that raman, for the past several days, has been calling regularly to chitchat. He has asked about everyone, everyone except...'

Except your truly!' shagun finished.

Ishita glumly nodded. What will I do shags?'

Get married!'

Baqvaas! Kuch bhi.. how will marriage help?'

Once you get some action from someone else, youll forget all about raman Bhalla.'

Ishita snickered. Speaking from experience, are we, queens of ghantaghar?' the two best friends giggled uncontrollably.

So dada kondke! Going forward, whats your plan then?' shagun questioned after a few minutes of mirth.

Complere and total denial. Ignore the subject at all times.'

That hasn't worked for the last billion years or so.'

Coz it hasn't been tried hard enough, ill make it work! Youll see.' Ishita asserted.

have it you way. But all this while I thought you dint like the dude,' shagun wondered, remembering the constant bickering between raman and ishita.

I, too, am surprised. I always thought that on some level e were friends,' ishita confessed, sighing.

Right away shagun smacked her on the arm.

Hey, whats that for?' ishita demanded, rubbing her stinging limb.

How dare you forget the first tenet of love set by maine pyar kiya?'

what?' ishita grumbled.''Ek ladka ladki kabhi doost nahi hotein. Kapkapati raatein, bhadakti aag, dhadakte jism, etc., remember?' shagun retorted. The two again dissolved into giggles.

Shit! Seriously Shags, what am I going to do?' ishita questioned, hugging her knees thoughtfully.

take up your chacha on his invitation of living with him in Chicago and pursuing a degree there,' shagun at last, gravely answered.

After a few minuted of silence, ishita asked, So how was your vacation?'

Interesting and eventful!' shagun replied.

Give me the details!'

That's another story for another day. Today lets deal with yours,' shagun replied.

Once ishita accepted her intense feelings for raman, she also saw the futileness of her one-sided heartache. when he gets here, om going to stay miles away from raman. But whne will he get here, its...'

Dil haara re! haara re!' jolted ishita out of her sleep and her dreams. Bloody tumhare dil kit oh--- cussed ishita. Just then , a few loud raps sounded at the door. Tullu im up! Stop breaking the door!'

sitting on the potty , ishita grumbled to the toilet rool. Na life mein sex, na dream mein sex. The alarm and tullu had to go off as the fun was about to begin!'

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