Ira's head was spinning when she heard what Arjun had to say. He had called in late at night and Noel and she had got really worried. But when he rang the bell and they saw him he was happy and excited about something. She could see the excitement and that twinkle in his eyes. At first she thought he finally got to speak to Ananya. But when those words came from his mouth she stood there still unable to react.
I proposed. To Sunaina. And guess what? She said a Yes!!
She could imagine each syllable slowly steadily sinking in. Noel sprang up and hugged his buddy. She looked at him disbelief first and then reminded herself that it is her childhood friend, Arjun who is getting married. She hugged him and hoped that he understood it all.
I knew you guys will be all excited! I am so happy. Finally after so many years! I am happy.
Arjun kept blabbering.
Ira went to the kitchen to get some drinks for them to celebrate. The walk from the hall to the kitchen was a few minutes but her mind had leaped four years. It flashed in front of her eyes with one thought in her mind...
Ananya!
When Ananya made that final call to Ira telling her about her decision to move to Bombay she was heart broken. That night everything changed. It was the night Ananya had packed her bags, Arjun landed at their apartment with a post-it in one hand and carnations in another. His eyes were red with anger and tears. Ira had opened the door. Noel and Arjun drank all night with Ira next to them who couldn't speak a word because of a promise she had given to Ananya.
Promise me, Ira you will not tell Arjun anything I told you. You do not know anything. You shall not confront him, talk to him or ask him anything. If he is happy I don't want anyone to change his mind. Please. Please do take care of him.
She nodded to Ananya's parting words.
That night Arjun spoke all night about how much he loved her. And how frustrated he is, that he had no idea what had happened so suddenly that she had to take off. He had questions that no one answered. He wanted to go to Bombay but Noel stopped him. Noel insisted that she had moved on in her career and that is what was important to her. Not Arjun, not this friendship not anything. Ira sat their dumb not knowing what to say and how to say. She let the drunken men blabber. When they passed out on the couch, she went to her room and had cried her heart out. She hated this change.
For these four years, she knew where Ananya was. Where she lived. What she did. They were in touch. In these four years, they didn't speak every day but caught up with each other at least once a month or two by a long phone call. First time in her life she hid something from Noel.
Of course Noel was on Arjun's side, he didn't know both sides of the story. She did and she always thought she could be the cupid. But she knew Ananya was healing from something that was unforgivable and Arjun was moving towards something that he always wanted.
Maybe he was never over Sunaina. He was his first love after all.
Thought Ira.
She kept her promise. She never spoke about Arjun to Ananya and about Ananya to Arjun. It was a forbidden topic. They tried hard to find new topics and when their throats choked, they called it a day and said a bye.
For four years she knew Arjun was getting close to Sunaina and was happy that he found comfort in her. But sadly she never could be completely happy for him because one thought always lingered in her mind - Ananya!
She absentmindedly picked up four glasses and a bottle of their favourite Chardonnay with a plate of cheese. She placed all of it on the table and called the guys. Noel looked into her eyes puzzled as if trying to read her mind.
We are just the three of us here. Fourth glass? For whom, madam?
Noel winked at her.
Ananya!
How she wished she could answer.
Just picked up all the glasses I had kept on the counter. Wish An... sorry Sunaina could be here.
Ira explained.
He heard just two letters and Arjun's eyes met hers. He tried to not complete the name in his head but he couldn't stop. He shook his head and came back to the present. Filled the three glasses with one glass standing empty there. Ira stared at the empty glass for long before she picked her glass.
Here's to Arjun and Sunaina! Cheers!
Noel raised his glass followed by Arjun and Ira.
The next morning Ira called in sick after Noel left. She picked up the empty glass that was kept on the table and filled it with wine. She drank the complete bottle waiting for the alcohol to do the trick. And yes, it did!
She checked her watch. 2:10 P.M.
She will be in her room now for lunch.
She picked up her phone and called Ananya.
Hi, Ira! Ssup? How come you called during the day? Everything okay?
She heard the chirpy voice on the other side.
Ann...anya!
Ira slurred
Hey! Are you drunk? Hahaha afternoon sessions. Where are you? Is Noel around?
Ananya was a little worried but she knew Ira wouldn't do anything stupid.
Annan..ya! Just shuddup and listen okay. I am breakinnn d promise! I wanna talk abou' Arrj...un!
She continued to try and make coherent sentences.
Ananya sat up in her chair a little worried about Ira.
What is it, Ira?
Arrrj...un is gettin marrried!
I proposed. To Sunaina. And guess what? She said a Yes!!
She could imagine each syllable slowly steadily sinking in. Noel sprang up and hugged his buddy. She looked at him disbelief first and then reminded herself that it is her childhood friend, Arjun who is getting married. She hugged him and hoped that he understood it all.
I knew you guys will be all excited! I am so happy. Finally after so many years! I am happy.
Arjun kept blabbering.
Ira went to the kitchen to get some drinks for them to celebrate. The walk from the hall to the kitchen was a few minutes but her mind had leaped four years. It flashed in front of her eyes with one thought in her mind...
Ananya!
When Ananya made that final call to Ira telling her about her decision to move to Bombay she was heart broken. That night everything changed. It was the night Ananya had packed her bags, Arjun landed at their apartment with a post-it in one hand and carnations in another. His eyes were red with anger and tears. Ira had opened the door. Noel and Arjun drank all night with Ira next to them who couldn't speak a word because of a promise she had given to Ananya.
Promise me, Ira you will not tell Arjun anything I told you. You do not know anything. You shall not confront him, talk to him or ask him anything. If he is happy I don't want anyone to change his mind. Please. Please do take care of him.
She nodded to Ananya's parting words.
That night Arjun spoke all night about how much he loved her. And how frustrated he is, that he had no idea what had happened so suddenly that she had to take off. He had questions that no one answered. He wanted to go to Bombay but Noel stopped him. Noel insisted that she had moved on in her career and that is what was important to her. Not Arjun, not this friendship not anything. Ira sat their dumb not knowing what to say and how to say. She let the drunken men blabber. When they passed out on the couch, she went to her room and had cried her heart out. She hated this change.
For these four years, she knew where Ananya was. Where she lived. What she did. They were in touch. In these four years, they didn't speak every day but caught up with each other at least once a month or two by a long phone call. First time in her life she hid something from Noel.
Of course Noel was on Arjun's side, he didn't know both sides of the story. She did and she always thought she could be the cupid. But she knew Ananya was healing from something that was unforgivable and Arjun was moving towards something that he always wanted.
Maybe he was never over Sunaina. He was his first love after all.
Thought Ira.
She kept her promise. She never spoke about Arjun to Ananya and about Ananya to Arjun. It was a forbidden topic. They tried hard to find new topics and when their throats choked, they called it a day and said a bye.
For four years she knew Arjun was getting close to Sunaina and was happy that he found comfort in her. But sadly she never could be completely happy for him because one thought always lingered in her mind - Ananya!
She absentmindedly picked up four glasses and a bottle of their favourite Chardonnay with a plate of cheese. She placed all of it on the table and called the guys. Noel looked into her eyes puzzled as if trying to read her mind.
We are just the three of us here. Fourth glass? For whom, madam?
Noel winked at her.
Ananya!
How she wished she could answer.
Just picked up all the glasses I had kept on the counter. Wish An... sorry Sunaina could be here.
Ira explained.
He heard just two letters and Arjun's eyes met hers. He tried to not complete the name in his head but he couldn't stop. He shook his head and came back to the present. Filled the three glasses with one glass standing empty there. Ira stared at the empty glass for long before she picked her glass.
Here's to Arjun and Sunaina! Cheers!
Noel raised his glass followed by Arjun and Ira.
The next morning Ira called in sick after Noel left. She picked up the empty glass that was kept on the table and filled it with wine. She drank the complete bottle waiting for the alcohol to do the trick. And yes, it did!
She checked her watch. 2:10 P.M.
She will be in her room now for lunch.
She picked up her phone and called Ananya.
Hi, Ira! Ssup? How come you called during the day? Everything okay?
She heard the chirpy voice on the other side.
Ann...anya!
Ira slurred
Hey! Are you drunk? Hahaha afternoon sessions. Where are you? Is Noel around?
Ananya was a little worried but she knew Ira wouldn't do anything stupid.
Annan..ya! Just shuddup and listen okay. I am breakinnn d promise! I wanna talk abou' Arrj...un!
She continued to try and make coherent sentences.
Ananya sat up in her chair a little worried about Ira.
What is it, Ira?
Arrrj...un is gettin marrried!
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