Network Romeo Series

Chapter-7

“Dude where are you? I’m waiting at KFC for more than five minutes!”

“Ha ha look out of the window silly!”

I cut the phone call and looked outside the window. I saw Yash waving at me. I waved to him. He came and sat near me at last.

“Dude! Tomorrow is the great day”

“Yeah so what to do?”

“Tell me how to impress her.. I mean… I don’t know how to propose her”

“Well that’s easy! Order me a popcorn chicken first”

“Ok fine”

As he was busy eating on my money, I asked him questions and he gave silly answers as always.

“Dude what gift will she like?”

“Hmm I don’t know dude! I’m planning to gift a teddy for Fiona”

“What is with the girls and teddy bears? No.. I’m surely not going to gift Togepi with a teddy”

“Then go with your instincts dude”

“Like what?”

“Order me a bucket chicken I’ll tell you what it is…”

“Idhu elam over da” (This is too much)

“Unaku un togepi venum na,(If you want Togepi) do what I say!”

I saw him smile cheekily at me. I gave a slam on his back and ordered the chicken that he asked.

“Mara you should understand one thing about girls”

“And what is that?”

“Ill explain….. What did you gift me on my birthday?”

“Batmin comics and DC colouring book”

“You know that its childhish right? But you just gave because you know I will like it”

“Yes”

“So if you want to impress Vaishnavi, gift what she likes. I know you are the only one who can give the best surprises”

“Thanks Yash! What if I gift her a sketching book or something… I know she is an artist”

“Perfect dude! I have told Fiona to come to Race course tomorrow so… Can you come?”

“Yeah I will try!”

It was Valentine’s day at last! I put on my best clothes and went to meet Vaishnavi at Baskin Robbins. I saw her sitting in a corner. She was really beautiful in her Black Chudidhar!

“Hey Togepi! How are you?”

“Yes fine Mara! Why did you call me here?”

“I just wanted to say something… but before that, Here is a present for you”

She stared at me and gave me a little smile. I saw tiny bits of happiness while she opened her present.

“Mafia! This is a wonderful present! Thank you so much”

“Well open the book and see inside togepi”

She opened and found the letter which I had written inside. She gave a little frown and started reading it.

“Dear Togepi!

You are very short and yes not so beautiful. You are not an angel as well but I should tell you something which I can’t speak before you. You are the only girl who understood me. I wish you always stay with me. I love you togepi. I can’t find another pretty eyed loving girl like you. Will you please be my girlfriend?”

I saw her crying after she had read this. I held her hands gently and looked at her.

“Why you don’t like me Vaishnavi?”

“Yes I don’t like you! Infact I hate you”

“Don’t lie togepi! I know that you have feelings for me accept it”

“I gotta go Mara”

“Please don’t leave me like this”

"I hate you"

I grasped her hands tight. She took a glass of water, splashed it at my face and rushed out crying. Why did she do that? Didn't she like me? Was everything a lie?

I tried to control my tears and sat alone thinking about what I had done wrong. After sometime, I received a phone call.

“Hey Mara! Yash here”

“Yes da tell me”

“You told that you will come to Racecourse? Where are you?”

“I forgot da sorry!”

“Why is your voice dull? What about you and Vaishnavi? Did you see her?”

“She doesn’t like me…so better leave it Mara”

“Oh! Don’t worry I’ll make things right. Now come to racecourse will you?”

“Ok da”

I went to Racecourse to see Yash. I may have the baddest luck but atleast hoped that Yash have a good one. I tried to hide my sadness and searched for Yash.

"Dey mandaya!!"

"Hello Yash! Why did you invite me here on Valentine's Day? Do you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"Stop the nonsense you fool. I called you to help me with my love problem"

"Why do I look like a love-broker? I’m already a broken lover"

"Leave that dude! I will speak with Vaishnavi okay?”

“Hmm okay okay”

“Now will Fiona accept me as her boyfriend?"

"I don't know da, I'm not Fiona. We can't understand how a girl feels because they are unpredictable"

"I am afraid da! We both hangout often, but I don't know whether she is interested on me"

"Just try machi! Any girl will like a weird guy like you. Ha ha!!"

"Stop laughing .................There she comes!"

"All the best buddy! Tell me what happened later. My work is done here"

A week passed but Vaishnavi tried to avoid me and didn’t speak a word with me. Yash spoke with her about me in college and I tried to listen without her notice.

“What’s wrong Vaishnavi? You know that Mara likes you the most than any other girl”

“Well Yash….. I’m going to be engaged and it’s a big story.. It’s my brother…. I wont give up anything in the world for my brother”

“Huh can you please explain?”

“My brother loves a girl but he cant marry because of her parents…… But there is a condition that if I marry the girl’s elder brother, he can marry her so……”

As they were speaking, tears started flowing. I wiped my tears and went to the restroom. I cried my heart out. So Togepi didn’t avoid me on purpose. She loves her brother and she is going to sacrifice only because of him. My respect for her grew each day.