19 Dates

Chapter 56

Next I called up Shalini to tell her all that I had just heard from Rajat, I had to share this with her because I knew we both would laugh for hours now that 19 dates was a hoax & the kind of things that we had planned around it but then I had no idea that this one call would be the beginning of change of everything between us:

Dev, "Shalini you won't believe what just happened (laughing)

Shalini (crying), "Dev I was about to call you."

Dev, "hey Shalini, are you crying? Hey what happened?"

Shalini, "Dev me & Neeraj we are not doing well. Our relationship has hit a very rough patch. I really need you around me buddy."

Dev, "hey Shalini relax & just tell me what is wrong? Trust me if you share everything I will be able to help you."

Shalini, "his insecurities about our friendship Dev, he has become the same old person. He thinks all the time that I talk to you & the fact that I am so much connected with you even after you have left can't just be friendship. he has become a very different person, he scares me now. Please Dev come back, I really need you (crying)."

Dev, "OK I am taking the next flight to India, just be strong I will keep you updated about what time I am reaching Mumbai."

So there I was the very next day, managing a very urgent leave & after a tiring 9 & a half hour flight journey I made it. I did not inform anyone else that I was in India, at that point of time only Shalini knew it. She came to pick me up at the airport, we drove down to her place, she told me that Neeraj was out for work so she wanted me to stay with her. Once we were there at her place Shalini told me everything, it was so disrespectful the way he was troubling her, things had reached to a very bad phase because he was getting physical. I was shattered and at the very same time furious to see my friend in that state. I did everything that I used to, to get that smile back on her face to take her focus off this messed up relation. Really didn't want to give her any advice at that point of time & it worked out. Shalini was feeling better & the happiness on her face returned:

Shalini, "I wish you were always here right before my eyes. You have no idea Dev what it is to not see you anymore like I used to."

Dev, "trust me Shalini I miss you as much as you do. Just a year more than I am coming back for all of you."

Shalini, "what the f*&^ are you doing there anyways dude, please come back."

Dev, "you have no idea what I am doing there. I have been committed for that stupid dating game you always wanted me to go for. Now I have officially dated 18 women (laughing)."

Shalini, "what the f&^% (surprised) but I am sure you are still a virgin (laughing)."

Dev, "shut up. The humor comes now. Yesterday when I was having a conversation with Rajat he told me it is a hoax. All crap that he made up in a drunken state (laughing).

I told her everything in detail & then we both laughed like crazy people & then all of a sudden something very strange happened when Shalini said:

Shalini, "but I still want you to complete this Dev, the 19th person, date me."

Dev (very much thought that this was another stupid prank she wanted to play on me, "have you lost your mind."

Shalini came close to me, I was still not sure about what was happening until she kissed me & I kissed her back. We could not restrain ourselves or hold back in that moment. It just happened, may be the moment, may be our friendship or may be love, but it happened. The next morning when I woke up I was scared, I was clueless how would I face her. I put my cloths on & went up to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for Shalini & then there was a knock on the door. I opened the door & it was Neeraj. He was baffled to see me, his anger raged & without asking anything he started to hit me. I tried to explain but he was furious and kept punching me. With all that sound Shalini woke up & rushed down to find all this shit. She tried to pull Neeraj off me & that is when Neeraj struck her too. He started abusing her & slapping her right in front of my eyes. I could not contain any longer. I punched him very hard in his face & knocked him out. There was a lot of blood all over the floor, I apologized to Shalini for what happened but she was in no state to speak. I asked her to come along with me to my place but she refused when I insisted she screamed at me & asked me to get out. I left taking my luggage & getting cleaned up, headed straight to the airport & took the very next flight back to London. Over the phone I told dad everything, he was mad at me for destroying everything in Shalini's life. He tried to contact her but then she never replied back. Dad even visited her office & her house but she refused to meet him. I never had the courage to ever face her or speak to her, after all failed attempts all dad got to know was that she had left ending her relationship with Neeraj.