Snow White And The Seven Dorks

The conversation

                                                                     CHAPTER-12

                                                             The Conversation

While buying a house , keep three things in mind .

1. Never have an irriating neighbour .

2. Never have an irritating neighbour who bores you with some crap about her love life .

3. Never have an irritating neighbour who bores you with some crap about her love life and keeps you detained , especially when you're in a hurry .

Source: The Unwritten Book of Irritating Neighbours By Ian Cicero.

Samantha , my neighbour , was unfortunately , the perfect annoying neighbour .

"Yes ... I mean we'd had the best of times together . I still can't forget the first day we'd met . It was in a cafe . He'd accidentally spilt a King-size chocolate milkshake on me . He apologised profusely , but when I looked up, I saw the handsomest guy I'd ever laid my eyes on... Derek . Derek Smith ...wh-wh-what do you think could have gone wrong Ian ? Oh Jesus , I still can't get his smile off my mind. "

Hey missie , wake up ! The guy you've fallen in love with is ugly . Nearly-squinted and has braces . He is a metal mouth !

She droned on for what seemed like centuries .

"Oh, don't worry Samantha . It will all be fine . I am pretty sure he's gonna call you up sooner and later . And you guys will soo be back together . Don't worry , cheer up now ! Yeah .... yeah...that's like my girl ! "

Phew.

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With shivering hands , I carefully dialled the number I'd scribbled on the paper . Simultaneously , I had two thoughts , the first , of course , about what secrets would be unveiled now ,and the second , I need to do something about my handwriting .

  "Hello , Am I speaking to Tatsuto ? " I did not have to struggle with the pronounciation as Aryan had already said the name a number of times .

"Yes . "

"Hey ! I am Ian . Ian Cicero . You probably don't know me , but-"

"No , I do. I do. Aryan told me ," he said . The  last three words he spoke came out in a seemingly unintended whisper .

"You - you okay ?"

I could hear a wheezy breath .

"Mm-hmm . Go on. "

"Tatsuto , I want to know all you know about Yukiko . Everything you can tell me ."

"Alright . I'd met Yukiko in Tokyo . She was working in the same school as mine . I asked her out . She refused. A few weeks later , I asked her out again . She said yes . And then one day , she -she just disappeared . "

"Would you mind going a little bit into details ? "

"Sure . I remember every tiny detail .

On 23 October last year , she joined our school . The first time I saw her was when I was walking out of my class , at about 10:40 a.m. . Pretty as a flower , she was . She was wearing a white chiffon blouse with a-"

"Tatsuto , I don't mean the details of your love life . I meant details about the change in her behaviour , why she'd refused the first time you'd asked her out , why she'd suddenly left ; if you know what I mean . "

"Oh . Oh . Okay .

Umm... I hadn't noticed any changes in her behaviour as such , I mean she'd always been the girl who'd act all cold and mean , though I know she was an amazing person on the inside . Why she'd refused the first time , I have absolutely no idea . All she'd said was that she had her own reasons for doing so . But I guess it must have been because we hadn't even known each other well at that time . It had been just two weeks since she'd joined . I accept I had been a little impatient - but I had my reasons . Most of the male teachers had their eyes on her.

But the second time I'd asked her out - we'd become really good friends by then . I must confess that she did not seem very glad at my proposal , but at that time , all I wanted was her . By any means whatsoever . And as for when she left , I have no clue about the reasons ."

"Anything else about her , which you found out about her after she'd left ?"

"I've managed to get he permanent address from the school somehow . The exchange program is going to end in a week's time . As soon as I get back to Tokyo , I'll visit that place . "

"That's amazing ! Could you pass me the address ? "

"Sure ."

I reversed the piece of paper with Tatsuto's number to write the address on it .

"Thanks ."

"Anytime . Umm... Ian ... do you know of any other - I mean -anybody else ..."

I took the cue .

"Yeah . There are a total of six . "

"Six ? " He nearly screamed .

"Yup . Good night Tatsuto ."

"Well, it's morning here , but anyway ,good night ." 

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As I lay awake in my bed , thinking about this mess , I knew there weren't just six . There were certainly more we were not aware of .

And then it occured to me . A stupid idea . But probably true .

Yukiko - Japanese for "Snow Child ".

Yukiko loved playing mind games . And I think she wanted us to figure this out on our own .

Figure out that this Snow White had dated seven dorks .

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