Lovesick the Series :

1 - The Radio

Mick was married to Mary on a summer day. She was a quiet girl, unusually quiet and that's why his parents liked her. Once he was released from the rehab centre, where his parents had locked him away to be a 'man', Mick was monitored very closely by his parents. He pretended to be the man his parents wanted him to be. He was soon employed as a music teacher in a small school, close to his parent's house. He brought home girlfriends. He drank and socialized at their community gatherings and events. He hit the gym. He learnt to fool his parents well and before long, those shackles of suspicion was soon removed. They didn't panic or frantically call when he failed to come home. They let him mingle freely without questioning the orientation of his friends. His parents however had the last say on his bride and that's how he ended up marrying Mary - a girl whose parents attended the same church as his. The party was over and the parents gave the couple two one-way tickets for their honeymoon. The destination was a small town on the opposite side of the country where a small house was purchased by his parents as their wedding gift. That's where Mick and Mary started out their new life in a town where nobody knew them. 

Mick tried to be a good man, not necessarily a good husband but a good upright man. It mattered in that small town, where everybody knew everyone else. Mick and Mary were the 'young handsome couple' as they were addressed. They attended Sunday Mass, volunteered at events and collected funds for the church, helped those in need and became one of the town's favourite people. There was no hint of Ohm's Mick in the man who stood with his broad back, hands on hips, surveying the sky for rain clouds. Mary had just finished doing the laundry and was watching him from behind, secretly. Mick had just returned from the school where he taught music and when he saw her with the laundry basket, he paused to look up at the sky. Will it rain?

'Mick, its ok. Even if it rains a bit - the laundry is wet anyway,' said Mary.

'I know. I just don't like the smell when the clothes stay damp for too long,' Mick replied. After 2 minutes, he was helping her dry them out when the sky didn't seem too threatening. 

Their life in the small town was a quiet one. Their regular routine didn't leave much time for wanting more. On good days, Mick would crack a joke. Mary would laugh. On other days, Mick and Mary were busy living a 'couple' life, as expected of them in the small town. It was a mechanical but she didn't mind. 

Mary wasn't demanding and as a housewife, did exceptionally well. She wasn't high maintenance but Mick would religiously remember their anniversary and repay her with a necklace or a pair of earring as their anniversary gift. An evening in a fine dining restaurant and back home before the clock struck twelve. It was a routine for the last 5 years they had been together. They made love, mechanically. They never talked about children. It was just another routine thing whenever one felt like it. 

Mick's school had a handful of teachers. He was friendly with them but not close enough to invite them over to his house or introduce them to his wife. He kept professional and personal lives apart. It was easier that way. The children loved him and he was highly favoured by the principal of the school. 

Mick was listening to the radio one evening. He particularly liked listening to a show called, 'Know thy Stars'. The radio jockey was a funny guy. He liked pulling pranks on the stars that came to his show. It was a popular show amongst the mass and the celebrities. The show had just started. 'Guess who we have in the studio this evening.... and if you can't guess, here's a popular number that's been playing everywhere these days'

... Music begins.. 

'It's the Nohm band!!! *drumroll* ... Let's welcome them here today at 'Know thy Stars'. It's their first time on this show and all the 4 members seem very excited to be here with me.. Am I really that good looking?' joked the radio host. Laughter in the background. 

'They are the rising stars from the Indi-space of music. They have just released their 2nd album that has some of their best works. If you haven't heard them yet - the title of their album is  - Nohm 2, so check it out. Go buy the album, let's support our boys here. Before I start with their introduction, here's another popular track.'

........ Music begins......

Mick is listening to the song for the first time and they seemed pretty good. Nohm. Seems promising, thinks Mick. Mick smiles as his mind begins to wander far back to their high school days. He was a part of a band once. He remembered the silly grin on Ohm's face as they sang their heart out at the Convent, where girls were squealing and screaming as fans would during a concert. Those days, we could afford to be foolish and carefree. Ohm. He wondered. Big giant Ohm. Mick's thoughts began to wander - the horn lessons, the college premises, the marching band, the personal lessons with Ohm, the heart beats, the disappointments, the many moments at the music club, Ohm's cheerful smile, Ohm's angry face, shy Ohm, those messages from him on phones, Ohm and him grabbing a bite at a restaurant (was it a lunch date back then?). Mick's sweet memories came to an abrupt halt when he heard Ohm's voice on the radio. 

'What?? Who?? Was it him? Is it a part of my daydream? Is that Ohm? Did I mis-hear?' so many questions that he almost had a brain freeze from trying to guess and make sense of his hearings, all at the same time.

'Thank you guys for your introduction. Now that we know our Stars names, let's begin with Noh - the leader who founded the band with this best friend Ohm....'

Mick fell back on his chair - it was from knowing that his ears were still sharp and his instincts were still right. Yes, he was right - that person was his Ohm. My Ohm. He thought. There were goosebumps on his arms when Ohm began to speak about the music they were making. Ohm spoke in tandem with Noh. The radio jockey made fun of them and pulled their legs. They laughed. Ohm's laughter still sounded same. Mick let out a small laugh too. It was liberating. Mick suddenly longed for the big guy and missed him dearly. In 5 years, this was the closest he had come to Ohm.