Hi guys! Here's my first ever entry to Likhavat, written for Likhavat 2.0, a one shot about how an octopus brings two lost lovers together, maybe figuratively 😋😉🐙
Enjoy!
Suman was getting married to Aditya today. A dejected Shravan had vowed to never step into Delhi again, leaving for London forever.
Much to his chagrin, he was forced to return barely a fortnight later, when Ramnath suffered a mild heart attack. Ramnath had chosen the moment to wash his hands off the guilt that had been eating him up since the wedding fiasco. He told Shravan everything, about his mother as well as Sumo. Shravan was undoubtedly shattered.
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"She refused to marry Aditya, on the day of their wedding. She said she couldn't give up on her love for you. She wanted to sort things out with you at the park, but you never showed up"
Noticing a distraught Shravan, Pushkar continued, "She never betrayed you Bhaiyya. Couldn't you see it in her eyes? I don't understand how you refuse to believe that she freaking loved you, loves you."
Shravan felt the ground disappear beneath his feet, yet again. He recollected her outlandish behaviour towards him ever since Preekar's wedding had been fixed; how he had befriended alcohol. He only wanted to see what his mind knew, not what his heart felt. He had taken away her only friend. He remembered how he had disconnected her calls that day and vanished, because he had had enough.
"Why didn't you tell me Chotte?"
"I had promised her. She had forbidden me from divulging any information, unless you ask directly, which unfortunately, you never did. She left Delhi, for good, saying she couldn't bear the humiliation. Nanu was the only one who stood by her decision."
Shravan gave him a questioning look.
"She's fine Bhaiyya. After handing over charge to Preeta, she is gradually settling down in Manali, a nice tiffin center for orphaned kids. Preeti speaks with her regularly. She tries to sound happy, but clearly, she's not. She turns a deaf ear to all our pleas. Please Bhaiyya, bring her back. Only you can."
So with a newfound determination, Shravan set out to bring back the love of his life. Finding her was not a problem, what with Preeti-Pushkar being such darlings.
He reached her doorstep that cold night, only to be greeted by a cute toddler, pointing towards the kids and Sumo in the garden. His world stopped right there, seeing Sumo, his Sumo. He did not even realize when he felt a lonesome tear trickle down his face.
She was trying to gather all the kids back under the roof.
"Come on hurry up kids! It's snowing heavily. She turned to see who was at the door, and the color drained from her face in an instant.
"Why are you here Shravan? There is nothing left to say or do now."
"Please Sumo, let me talk. There has been a misunderstanding. Please hear me out". She had nothing to lose anymore. She nodded.
"I couldn't take it Sumo, the cold shoulder you gave me ever since Pushkar-Preeti's alliance got fixed. And then you accepted PCT from that...Aditya, and before I realized, his proposal. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing you marrying someone else. He took everything away from me, my mother, you. I decided to leave and put an end to all of this. I was convinced that 'we were done'. I tried so hard Sumo, to let go of you, your thoughts, but everything just kept coming back. I was living in my own bubble, I failed to see what you were going through. Papa has told me all about Ma, and what he did to you. Please forgive me Sumo. I was wrong, but my love for you was never wrong. I remember you told me once, friends come and go, like the waves of the ocean. But the real ones stay, like an octopus, on your face. And this time, I need my octopus back with me, forever."
"What? Are you here to tell me about a goddamn octopus? And please decide if you want an octopus for a friend or a wife". She said, vexed. Shravan was glad she was talking to him, at least.
"You got only that out of the whole thing? Sorry, my bad. You know, ten years back, I was so intimidated by you. I wanted to get back at you when I returned". He sighed, smiling.
"But I guess some things never change. I'm still the same old apprehensive Chashmish, your Chashmish. No matter how towering your Qutub Minar grows, you still manage to scare the sh*t out of me."
"So, my dear octopus!..." That earned him another glare, but he was determined to finish his ten-year-old wait today. The kids were enjoying this entertaining conversation, what with the snow and popcorn Sumo had made.
"Sumo, the dialogues might sound outdated, given that it has been 17 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes since I last saw you, but the feelings are not. I wanted to tell you this the other day over coffee".
He smiled, "I love you Sumo. I love the way you keep looking at me with all the love that you have kept locked deep in the chambers of your heart. I love the way you get flustered when I catch you staring at me and immediately remember some odd job that you had to finish. I love that dazzling smile on your lips, and that cherry red blush on your cheeks, when I pull your legs. I love the way you care for me and check on me, if I've had my lunch, if I'll be working late, if I've had a bad day. I love the way you feed me to death, without me having to ask for it. I love that you know me better than I know myself. I need you. You do not understand that your mere presence is enough to brighten the dullest and darkest moments of my life. It is only you who can keep me sane Sumo. Please come back. Please!".
"Enough! Not another word from you. Don't you think you talk way too much?"
This time Shravan was irritated.
"I got speechless there for a moment Shravan Malhotra. I admit, I can never make such a heartfelt speech".
"Not exactly the answer I was looking for". He said with a weak smile. The giggly kids decided to go fetch more popcorn. This was way beyond entertaining.
"Shh, you not only talk more, but you are also extremely impatient". She pulled him down by his collar. Their lips were mere inches apart. "You said such nice things about me, but I have nothing nice to say about you. You know why?"
Shravan gulped nervously. Sumo smiled as she recalled her conversation with Ramnath that morning. He had asked for forgiveness for all his doings, for taking so long to accept the truth and had demanded that she return right away so he could get the two married.
"Because I believe, actions speak louder than words."
And with that, she crashed her lips onto Shravan's, before his brain could even process what was happening.
"And that's how we roll! I love you too my Octopus!"
A woman sure knows how to surprise her man.
If you liked it, vote and comment :)
Love,
Nuts
