Love Started With A 'Boo' | ✓

Episode 12

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘩, 2017
𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘢

The methodical bedtimes were no more normal, the regular days were no more conventional, the earlier life had disrobed amazingly and a new covering had been wrapped across; it all felt excessively uncanny to have my dogma in it. I had everything in my life ─ caring parents, supporting brother and sister-in-law, dainty niece to spend my days with, and adorable kids to train, with a well-paying job for self-independence. But amidst all this, one thing was missing─ a lover. About whom I had never given a second thought as I had presumed that it was a chronic disease in which I hadn't wanted to taint myself.

But, alas!

I was drowned in the very ocean of the waves of love which was yielding tsunamis every day like a routine inside the four-chambered love symbol nom de guerre as ─ the heart.

I tossed and turned and gazed at the ceiling which no more fatigued me. It was three in the night and I was still not able to close my eyelids to welcome the sleep from the fairyland as if I was forbidden from getting any siesta from the past few months. Divyaant was already snoring as I could hear the lub-dub sound of his heartbeat on the speaker.

He'd have again kept his phone on his heart and dozed off, I grimaced and sighed heavily.

A few minutes ago we were talking on the phone but then prostration and stress took a toll on Divyaant and he languished without even bidding me a proper good night wish and kiss, huh, I fulminated and closed my eyes in a little disappointment. From the past several days, his schedule had been tumultuous with loads of volumes of books to analyse for, after his professional hours, and then giving time to me for which I always used to anticipate. I know I shouldn't act like a grouchy kid, but I truly missed him a lot these days.

It wouldn't be even fifteen minutes or so and he'd be already wheezing. That's how it was going.

Our chat time was minimal,

Our call time too declined,

Our quality time too was subdued a lot.

And all these things were making me yearn for him more and more. We hadn't even met from the past four weeks at least. Video calls weren't even communicated between us as his smartphone's camera wasn't functioning properly as per by him and the new phone was out of context as he didn't have the time to buy it. But I know the reason better, he was a 100% desi Baniya. He wouldn't leave this phone till it dies on its own as it was just a year old device, wasn't it? He would operate it for at least ten years, won't he?

I chuckled at my lame joke and opened my eyes to take in the black and white view of my room as the lights were switched off. Silhouette of my table and chair could be seen. I could still hear the lub-dub of his heart, it was the most pleasing and comforting melody for my ears to hear his rhythms.

Even I couldn't believe that I was in love with the same man whom I had─ made fun of, called hippo gazillion of times, pranked against, and fought against at the silliest of things.

I could still reminisce the day when that hippo took me for an unplanned and unexpected tour for which I had to lie to my family.

It happened around four full moons and new moons back.

~

The day was a pleasant excursion day and I was engaged in indoctrinating Mathematics to my students when I heard someone calling me. "Pritika madam, someone is calling for you outside the school premises," it was Mr Tyagi, our experienced peon who informed me diligently when I got outside the classroom. I was confused haphazardly as I couldn't pinpoint who could it be. Veerji or Daddy? Giving a brief nod to Mr Tyagi, I went inside the classroom and gave some sums as homework to the kids and the bell consecutively rang.