A Beautiful Mess

Chapter 3

I entered the class and the girls waited for me like I was about to tell them the secret of the universe.

I smiled and announced,

"So everyone the date is set and so is the theme, "they hung on to my every word and it kind of made me laugh, I thought of dragging it a little bit and so I did

"The date is..." the girls hunched a little more forward while the boys just made uninterested faces.

"Is..." on that the entire class cracked up including Josh

And I burst out laughing too

"Bro, tell them when it is before they fall off their seats," one of the guys said

"Okay Okay no more suspense it's on Monday; a week from now and there's no theme so feel free to dress up."

And then the class erupted into voices of what to wear and what not and everything went back to normal. Except that Josh looked at me weirdly and I raised my eyebrows at him, he just winked and turned around. Fresher's party in one week meant I had to work my ass off but I didn't really mind, I liked being busy. Kind of kept my mind off things.

*********

Five days, five freaking days is what I get to organize a party, along with school, studies, my job, visits and every other thing I have scheduled. Panic struck its chords and I could not sleep that night. Five days and a committee of 5 useless knuckleheads. I gave up on sleeping and grabbed my pink folder. It was 11 but I did not hesitate to go to gams. I unlocked the door and sneaked in quietly. I placed my folder, laptop, and my planner on the desk and began scribbling. Yes, I had a planner, organizing, and being in control is what I liked. You could say spontaneity was not my thing. I sighed and began to scribble.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday were my working days. I worked in a cafe, period. Nothing interesting or exciting about my job. Only if I were an artist or something. Anyway the rest of the days I had my visits with gam and tuition.

"Kalsii.!!" said a loud voice

I practically jumped off the chair and screamed. My planner flew and I saw that arrogant jerk laughing his pants off.

"Are you crazy," I yelled

"Yeah right, you sneak into my apartment and I am crazy."

"This is my house too..."I hissed

"Oh don't even start with that babble of yours "and then he lifted my planner and started reading it.

I shot up from my seat and launched on him for my book, "it's my book nobody reads my book, don't you have any manners that's my personal stuff and you shouldn't read it, give it back," I yelled dramatically and placed my hand forward for him to return my book.

"Venky, don't you ever chill, "he started walking with my book still reading it.

"Give it back," I followed

And he looked at me with a straight face and tossed the book at me,

"Seriously Venky, only three words for you, he said faking sympathy and did the overrated air quotes, GET A LIFE."

I caught my book, gave him a dirty look, and walked back to my desk.

"I don't need a dumb jock telling me what to do thank you."

"Fine drown your snobbish self in this pathetic way of life for all I care, Venky."

"Whatever," I simply blew him off without letting him know how much his statement actually hurt.

"And stop calling me that, you are not even my friend, "I said weakly.

I didn't wait for his response and quickly grabbed my stuff and walked out. I could see that he was stunned, he could probably make out that I was hurt but I didn't care. He was still an asshole.

********

The next few days were a blur with minimal contact with Josh and most of the time being spent on lights and decor and catering and what not.

A day before the big day, I went to Gams for her special Sunday breakfast and had to face that A-hole. Ignorance was motto and thus I pretended he was invisible.

I hogged the dhoklas, if you go to see, it's awesome gam being a Catholic making a Gujarati dish and me being south Indian eating it with both my hands. My chain of thoughts was brashly interrupted by my phone causing an earthquake on the table.

"Hello?"

"Yes, paneer no not peas one paneer tikka and the other chicken dish"

"Yes...Please I don't want any confusion Sharmaji, one veg and one non veg dish is what I want."

"Yes, okay, thank you."

I sighed and yet again my phone rang,

"Hello?"

"Yes shalini tell me, yes silver balls...

No no golden does not go with the theme...Yes okay, I'll be there in an hour."

I barely kept my phone on the table when it vibrated again, "arghh...!"I balled my fists and made an exasperated sound.

Josh looked at me from the couch and looked back at the television. That jerk enjoying the day off.

"Hello?"

"Whaaat..!"I screamed and shot up from my chair.

"No, Noo, Noo this can't be but Sunny you promised, the party is tomorrow, what the hell am I supposed to do there can't be a party without a Dj."

"Umm, yes I understand, okay, bye."

I slumped on my chair and was on the verge of tears. I shook my head and gave myself a pep talk. You can do this, you can do this. All this while Josh just watched his stupid box and glanced at me once in a while.

I got up straightened my shirt and gathered my stuff.

"Gam m leaving," I yelled.

"But Kalsi at least finish your breakfast..."

I'll grab something on the way, Ma don't worry." I gave her a peck on the cheek and ran out.

******

The entire day I ran making arrangements, inviting teachers, rechecking the menu, blah blah.

I reached home at about 10 and went straight to gams. I was exhausted; exhaustion did not describe how I felt right then as if a truck had been over me. I entered and slouched on the chair, Gam had slept by then and Josh was exactly in the same position I saw him in the morning with different clothes. I envied him. I lifted the cover of the plate laid out for me, 'I love you gam' I whispered and ate alone with television sound accompanying me. It was peaceful after awhile something nudged my shoulder.

I whimpered. Something nudged hard and I opened my eye. With one open eye, I saw Josh nudging me and startled up.

"Oww, "I yelped my neck was stiff.

"Are you drunk, who sleeps on the dining table?"He mocked.

I rubbed my neck and stood up. My eyes were droopy and I was sore. I sleepwalked to the couch and fell, literally fell asleep. 

*Josh watched with amusement and couldn't stop smiling as she made snore like whimpers. He got a blanket from his room and covered her. She snuggled and he left with a smile.*