“Hi! My name is Shesh. I am calling to discuss about one person whom I’ve been in love with for a long time. Can you please call me back at an appropriate time? I really need your help. “
Being an RJ it was her job to listen to all these kind of messages and help people solve their love lives. As, she was “The Friend” for all her listeners.
She made a note of the phone number and name, and pressed the next button on her console. Having made the notes of the messages, she sat down to prioritize her list. However, this message was still disturbing her. She felt she probably knew who this person was. She tried hard to recognize the voice, but to no avail. She went back to her console, listened to the message…
Her eyes circled to focus on the voice, to recognize who the person is.
“Ah” She said shaking her head.” Despite all my efforts I couldn’t recognize this person. But I m sure I know him. Anyhow, I need to be anonymous, this is just my job.” She was talking to herself..
Sometime later she called him up:
“Hi! Shesh, how are you? This is The Friend from Radio World.”
“Hi Friend! Before we even start talking I want to request you not to air this conversation, please.”
“Sure Shesh. Tell me what is it that you want to talk about. I will try my best to help you out.”
“Well the fact is, I have been in love with a girl for quiet sometime now.”
Uhh!! Another of those teenage touch-me-not lovers… thought Fabia. Though she didn’t react that way to Shesh. Rather said “Oh ok.”
“We were in twelfth standard when I first felt that the feeling I have for her is Love.”
“Hmmm”
“I was just too shy to tell her. I was a bright student and my teachers and parents made me feel that falling in love is bad. Therefore despite being in love I never told her anything.”
“Hmmm, that’s the way our society is.”
“Yeah that’s true. Well now after seven years. I am a successful engineer and successfully placed in my life. And the fact is, I still love her. Now, she too has grown and is working somewhere. I saw her recently with some guys and girls. I don’t know if she is engaged. I don’t even know if she remembers me. I mean I don’t really know If I should even try to talk to her. And if you say, I should. My next question would be… How? And about what?”
“Hmmm I see. Can you tell me when did you speak to her last? What was the kind of relation you shared with her during school times?”
“We were just friends. The last time I spoke to her was when I passed out from the college. She was already working by then.”
“Hmmm, and do you think she remembers you. I mean I want to know what do you think.”
“I m not sure, Friend. I really am not sure.”
“Hmmm, when you say you love her, what exactly do you mean? And what do you want of her?”
“I love her means I love her a lot and want to spend my entire life with her, if she agrees.”
“Hmmm, I hope you realize that she might have someone else by now, since she never knew that you loved her.”
“Yes I do. But I just want to tell her that I love her. I want her to know that I always did. I will certainly respect her decision.”
“That sounds great. SO now what’s the problem?”
“I m not sure how will she react if I tell her about this.”
“Well if she remembers you I m sure her reaction would not upset you since you said you will respect her decision. And, if she doesn’t even remember you, does her reaction even matter?” She smiled.
“ Yes you are right. Can you also tell me how would I know if she remembers me or not. By the way, I forgot to mention, my friends say , while I was away for my studies just after twelfth she kept enquiring about how I was and where I was. Though she never asked my parents about me. Do you think she loves me?”
“ Shesh darling. Understand the fact that nobody else but she knows the answer to your question the best. So lets ask her about it. What do you say?”
“ Yes I agree. And how should I go about it?”
“ Do you know where does she live?”
“Yes she lives alone in my neighborhood. Comes back home usually late in the night. Oh ! I love her.”
JHmm I realize that.
“I would suggest if you cannot meet her, write a message and send some roses over to her. Make sure she receives her when she comes back from work. If she remembers you, you would get to know.”
“Thanks a lot you are a true friend.”
“The pleasure is all mine. This is not just my job I m a friend to you.”
“Thanks. If I need any more help.”
“Hmmm , feel free to write in.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“You are welcome. Take care. God bless you. Bye”
She put the phone back on the cradle and felt… How I wish I had the same courage in my own life. To tell Anumeh that I loved him. Tell him that I have loved him ever since I knew him.
“Well I guess I got to call someone else since I need a conversation to air tonight.” She thought and started scrolling thru the list that she had prepared. Then she chose a name and dialed the number.
“Hi Abhiman, How are you? This is The Friend calling from Radio World.”
“Hi Friend! I am fine thank you. How are you? I was waiting for your call and was wondering if you would ever call me. I really love your voice.”
“Thanks Abhiman, I am fine too. So, tell me what is it that you wanted to talk about and what help would you want from me?”
“Friend, this is regarding one of my sisters. She isn’t my real sister, not even a relative. We know each other since our childhood and she calls me a brother. I too love her like a little kid. She is cute, adorable and a wonderful person. She is a very strong and independent person. I respect her for that.”
“Hmmm, so what is the concern?”
“Well I accidentally happened to wander in the inbox of one of her email Id’s and I read some of her conversations with some guys that was ………………….. uh………………. I don’t know how to phrase it. In simple words I think whatever I read was inacceptable to me. Honestly speaking, had it been my real sister, I would have killed her. I would really have killed her for that. But here I don’t know what to do. Can you please help?”
“Hmmm I see. So what you are telling me is you entered her inbox. You invaded her privacy and you think she is wrong? What makes you think you were right in reading anything there? I feel you invaded the privacy of that girl and that is not something I can ever appreciate.”
“Ummm I don’t know if I was wrong or what but I really did not understand how could she? And now I just want to know what should I do? I know she is going wrong. I know its wrong for her. She is going to spoil her own life. I don’t want her to do that.”
“Hmmm and you happen to be the guardian of a grown up girl? I believe she is an individual and an independent person. What I would suggest is you should not do anything. Keep out of all this. It’s her personal life and all you need to do is do nothing.”
“But friend…..”
“Dear Abhiman! There are no if-but to it. If you love her as a brother and respect her as an individual, all you need to do is… Please keep out of this. And remember to respect her personal space. Always.”
“Do you think it’s alright for her to do what she is doing?”
“Well I think it’s not right for you to interfere in her life and her personal space. There are things that should not be talked about. And this is one of those things. I do not think I can tell you anything else on this.”
“Hmmm I think I should agree to you now.”
“Hope this is not just a verbal agreement and you go by your words.”
“Yes I will, my dear friend.”
“Great! I am happy that I have made a difference to your life.”
“Alright then, take care. Have a nice time and take care of your sister.”
“Ba-bye. Take care.”
“Thank you my dear friend. You have been a great help.”
“Pleasure is all mine friend.”
She disconnected the call and finished the recording.
Great so I have found the topic of conversation as well. And I can also talk to the psychiatrist about this.
She packed her bag and made a move to the parking. There she went driving all the way to her home. She parked her car and looked for the house keys. She went to the door and was surprised to see a bunch of red roses there with a note.
She picked up the bouquet and started reading the note.
“Hi Fabia! Saat saal zindagi thehri hui thi, kal jab tumhe dekha toh laga zindagi wapas aai hai mere paas. Mai tumhe hamesha batana chahta tha par darta tha shayad tum mujhe galat samjho. Par aaj apne ek dost se jab baat ki toh laga ek baar tumhe batana chahiye.
My dear Fabia I love you, I want to hold your hand till the earth goes round the sun fifty times, will you let me hold your hands by then please?
Fabia I love you, and want to ask you for your decision. I am okay with whatever your decision is… I love you and will always do…… Your decision will effect your life for sure but my feelings for you would not change. Ever…. “
She read it and realized it was her friend Anumeh she spoke to over the phone. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She pulled the note close to her breast and closed her eyes to allow the tear drops roll down to her lips. When she opened her eyes, she found Anu right infront of her eyes.
“Uh You here???”
She just didn’t know how to react.
He went on his knees looked at her , stretched his right hand and asked her
“Can I hold your hand till the earth goes round the sun fifty times “
She smiled and put her hands on his…. And, she just nodded in affirmation her throat was choked.
He wiped her tears and said “I am sorry”
“Being in love means, never having to say that you are sorry”
“Thanks Fab I love you….”
“I love you too Anu…….”
