Strangers - unknown relatives to being each other's human diaries to standing at a crossroads of love, family reputation, societal weight, and an upcoming marriage with the biggest question of their lives which would affect everything
Arun doesn't t...
I had embraced a carefree life in Hyderabad, living in the moment, and loving every bit of it. I had a blast at work, enjoying drinks and laughter with my colleagues after working hours.
Weekends were reserved for my cousins and relatives in Hyderabad, filled with mall trips, shopping, horror movie nights at home, and silly times with the kids Sajni and Januja they grew in front of me and were too close to me. The time flew so fast that the year ended.
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As 2023 began, my friendship with Indu continued to flourish. She wished me at midnight. I was having fun with my relatives in Hyderabad. I would regularly update her about my life, and one day, she mentioned a guy who had caught her attention in college. I playfully teased her, encouraging her to take things further. On the same day, she sent me an image of both of them together. I was shocked for a moment and continued teasing her for her courage and being so fast. She informed me that he came and introduced himself and was sharing stories of their encounters, even sending pictures with the mystery guy. I was invested in Indu's adventures, eagerly asking for updates and offering support. Our chats grew longer, and eventually, they shifted from typing to talking on the phone as Indu was tired of typing long messages.
I made sure my phone and earphones were always charged, and ready for their nightly conversations. I even sent Indu a photo of my power bank, earphones, and mobile, declaring my readiness for the call. Indu messaged me that she spent a whole day with the mystery guy on a college campus but she had no excitement the whole time. It was odd but it made me feel kind of relieved after hearing that.
As the days passed, our phone calls became a routine, lasting hours and filling my days with her laughter and stories. Indu would often talk to me during her lunch breaks, evening walks, and even while navigating her campus, narrowly avoiding a snake one day! I was so worried as she said she was about to step on the snake, that idiot!
After a few days of her stories about the mystery guy. He had asked her to go out for an outing during the weekend. She told me about it and I asked her to go as she was always confined to her hostel room and campus. She went out with him along with another couple and sent me pictures of them together. I knew he was younger than Indu. However, as I saw the images I had a weird feeling in my heart. "What am I doing?" I had already convinced myself that she was too young for me. I had suppressed all the feelings and told myself from time to time "She is a kid and just a good friend". However, I did feel bad seeing her with someone else.
Most of the time our chat and calls would be filled with complete nonsense. I never behaved like that with anyone I was free and could be as stupid as I wanted to be and didn't need to pretend anything with her. She used to send me screenshots of her chats with other people and I used to tease her for her popularity in college and among boys who tried to flirt with her. I would fill our chat with emojis and gif's she would get irritated having her memory being filled with everything I sent her. In our journey of 7 years, nothing felt complete without telling her. Now that we started taking over calls every day I started waiting for her calls and messages even more. Her North Indian roommate's smoking habits and Indu getting pulled into all the drama with the hostel warden. Everyone would come to her to resolve the fights and love stories in class and all other problems. She used to share everything that happened and I could listen to her for hours.
Almost a month passed by and I was at my cousin-brother's house. I was laughing while chatting with Indu so my Vadina(means cousin-brother's wife) asked me who I was talking to. She had a weird smile while asking me that so I played along and told I was speaking with my girlfriend. She didn't believe me at first and then started asking me "Who is she?" "Where is she from?" "Is she the same caste as us?" I updated all this to Indu simultaneously as I was speaking with my Vadina. To make things more interesting I told my Vadina that Indu was a Muslim. Vadina was from a village background and was shocked as even intercaste marriages are hard and I changed the religion. She started asking me to tell the truth. I messaged Indu to change her profile picture to a Muslim girl in a burka(an outer garment worn by some Muslim women that fully covers the body and the face).
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Indu actually changed the profile picture. I showed the profile picture of Indu to my Vadina to prove that I was telling the truth. Indu was on call the whole time and we both couldn't stop laughing. After seeing the profile picture Vadina asked when I was going to introduce her to them. I told if she said yes I would bring her home tomorrow for the weekend. Vadina was excited and said yes. Unexpectedly Indu also agreed to come however she had to still get permission from her mom and apply for the outing in the campus hostel.
Fortunately, her parents agreed. I went to pick Indu up the next day from campus and brought her to my cousin-brother's house. We had lunch together, all of my relatives and Indu went to a movie together. After the movie Indu and I went for live music at night. I drank that night and it was the best live music I ever went to. The day ended the next day we just visited the nearby places, went for a walk and late at night we went to Charminar in Hyderabad on my bike. Indu played music on her phone, shared one earphone with me, and laid her head on my shoulder. We had music, and gossip during the night ride and I wished that the ride never ended as she had to go back to the hostel the next day.
"At first, it was just moments we'd share, But soon, my heart craved your presence there, In every joy, every strife, I needed you, my best friend in life.
The nonsense and the important ones too, I shared it all, my thoughts anew, With you, my confidante, my guiding light, My world expanded, in your caring sight.
Unknowingly, you became a part of me, A rhythm that harmonized my destiny, In your eyes, my soul found a home, With you, I was never alone.
Your presence seeped into my every pore, A gentle breeze that I adored, In your embrace, my heart found rest, With you, my friend, I was at my best.
You're more than just a friend, it's true, A missing piece I never knew, In the puzzle of my life, you fit, A feeling so strong, it forever sits."
