Red roses - Part 12

Love was in the air. Everyone around him seemed to fall in love. This made him  miserable. He started to deviate his thoughts into positive side. He stopped handing around with his friends though they did pester him to be part of their group.

Fortunately it was a good decision for him. He knew his friends would use him for their selfish purposes. He didn't want to be their spot boy. Most of time he would spend his time at the library, reading books. Sometimes he would spend his time at park  writing poems.

But there were times when he would find himself drifted towards thoughts about her. Her enhancing smile wouldn't leave him for a second. He missed her twinkling eyes and sweet angelic voice.

While his mind created a fantasy of her, his phone vibrated. He didn't pick up. He didn't even realise that someone was standing behind him. It was only when that someone shook him and bought back to the real world.

" Dude! Why do you keep your phone when you don't pick up? I have called you like dozen times and you sit joblessly doing nothing. Come and join us!", Rajeev said, pulling him. " No bro! You go! I am fine", Arjun said. " Do you think I love bringing you with me? It's Lucy's wish to have you join in her birthday celebration.", Rajeev said.

" It's her birthday! ", Arjun said in faint whisper. At last he allowed Rajeev to drag him towards the vehicle. His heart was beating faster with every passing second. Second thoughts of backing down came into his mind. But he wanted to see her and make her birthday special.

( To be continued)

Red roses - Part 11

Arjun's life came to standstill. His worst nightmare became a reality. He should be happy but his heart was aching badly. He wanted to leave but he couldn't because of his friends. The pain was similar to one when we feel at the time when our friends score better than us in exam.

" Rajeev!! Do you seriously mean it? I am aghast! I have no words!  Is this true?", she asked , not able to digest the fact that Rajeev had just proposed her. Tears were in verge of bursting out from her eyes.

She composed herself. She took few long breath. After a lot of time sorting out her heart and mind , she agreed, breaking Arjun's heart. Rajeev was thrilled and hugged her. Arjun was obviously unhappy but he pretended to be happy. He had to leave them alone and if he stayed longer , he wouldn't be happy. " Guys! Congratulations! But I am sorry, urgent work came up.", he lied, pretending to see his cellphone.

They tried to coax him to stay longer. But he was adamant and left. As he walked down the road, he wasn't able to understand this new feeling he had for Lucy. He had wooed her for his friend. Now he didn't want them together because he got to know her well and was smitten by her adaptability.

A man in his early thirties was chained. There was not even a slightest way for him to escape. He had been screaming for many days . But now he was accustomed to the fact that he couldn't be heard. It had been days since he was locked up. He had no idea about how he had landed here.

The solitude had taken every part of his sanity. The only thing he wanted was glimpse of human's presence. He had lost 90% hope in life. But 10% hope made him alive. As he observed the place, he saw a presence appearing from nowhere. It was coming closer to him. Suddenly his senses became alert. But it wasn't too quick than the alien body which had already taken control of him. It was over him and looked straight into his eyes. Fear blared from his eyes and his mouth was open like a wide O. It had no eyes and only one mouth was present on the face. It opened it's mouth wide near his face and a white light penetrated from it's mouth to his mouth. It was sucking out life from him. Another victim lost his life under it's control.

(To be continued)

Red Roses - Part 10

Lucy wasn't like any ordinary girl. She did things just like them. She loved football and she also loved spending time playing video games. She never cribbed or cried when they spoke about bikes or gadgets. In fact she would add her opinions regarding these things and those opinions would be useful.

Arjun was impressed. Rajeev was lucky to have her in his life. No complaints ! No unnecessary expectations! She was exceptional. Sometimes Arjun would get jealous of Rajeev.

It was becoming difficult for Arjun to see Rajeev trying to get closer to her. He was happy for them and it was he who had tried to bring them together. Then why was he feeling these negative energies flowing inside him?

Sometimes he wished that they parted ways or Lucy would come up with random boyfriend or she doesn't find Rajeev good enough for her. Unfortunately today thwarted his dreams.

The weatherman had reported about the arrival of the cyclone and unexpected rain. But no one believed him until they faced the wrath of nature. So the citizens continued with their daily life.

Lucy, Rajeev and Arjun sat on their old hangout place- the cafe where they first met. Their conversation was about the usual pulling each other's leg and sports. Later it shifted to serious topic like love and girls. They were discussing about expressing love and how much courage did each of them had while expressing this beautiful feeling. Suddenly Rajeev spilled his heart out, " I love you,Lucy. Will you be my girl friend?"

( To be continued)

Red roses - Part 9

His friend was innocent or stupid. It was hard to tell. His friend was never serious about anything. " I am sorry about Rajeev! Don't take him seriously. ", Arjun apologized. She chuckled and said, " Why do you keep apologising simply?  You have said sorry like a dozen times now. And a little secret about me- I don't take things serious just like Rajeev."

Arjun smiled sheepishly. He was embarrased. He hadn't noticed the number of times he had said sorry even though it wasn't his mistake. It had all started when he was little. Every now and then he would say sorry because he felt he hurt someone's feeling or someone had hurt other's feeling and it was righteous of him to say sorry.

" Ok it's time for me to go.", she said, leaving the two men wishing she never left. " Awwww !! Do you have to leave soon!", Rajeev asked, being a bit open about his feeling than Arjun. Arjun didn't open his mouth. He did want her to stay longer but he was concious about his friend's feeling. What if he asked her to wait for bit longer? Will Rajeev feel bad that he asked her?

She left after they persisted her to stay longer which obviously had no effect on her. However Rajeev was happy again. The night was spent on more sober activities apart from drinking. They were watching the dispointing match where their favorite team - Spain had lost.

But Rajeev didn't feel bad. His day was already made special because of Lucy. He was singing only praises about Lucy. Atlast everything was fine untill now.

Next few months saw three friends become closed friends. Arjun tried to leave Rajeev alone with Lucy. But Lucy would always drag him too. He was worried about Rajeev's insecurities though Rajeev didn't show them yet.

( To be continued)

Red roses- part 8

He was hesitant at first. What will he do by spending time with the couple? Being a third party was not easy job. You had to bear the brunt from the both side. Before he could raise his voice, she grabbed his hand. Thus it startled him.

He looked at his friend's eyes. They were filled with discomfort of him being there with them. He nodded his head , responding  friend's discomfort eyes by showing his helplessness.

They spent the whole day , walking and talking about their lives though it was his friend who did most talking amongst the three. Arjun observed her throughout the conversation. She looked bored and why not? His friend's habit of showing off never impressed too many people.  But she never tried to stop in between or showed any displeasure.

They were at the cafe. He placed the order like always because his friend never took the responsibilities of making any decision. He was dependent only on Arjun.

While giving orders, he asked her, " What would you like..." This was bad. They hadn't even asked her name or made any introduction. "Lucy! A cup of coffee would do.", she said.

They continued talking when he interrupted, " We know your name but we didn't tell ours." Her cheeks turned a bit pink. " Oh yeah! We didn't have proper introduction. I am Lucy and I stay with my sister , Fern.", she said. "Oh you have a sister. Then you are lucky, Arjun", his friend joked. Arjun was embarrassed while Lucy gave him a stern look.

(To be continued)

Red roses - Part 7

This was the end. They were prepared to walk on the different path. They were disappointed but they had no other option. Every person in this world had the right to chose. They let their hopes fly in thin air.

As they turned to walk, she laughed out loud. First it was giggles and then it changed into loud laugh. Her laugh was lyrical and beautiful. They wished it stayed longer. However it was only for few minutes when  she became composed and calm.

" I love that look of yours. I mean you guys are hilarious. I have never thought asking someone to be your friend is  so complicated.", she said. This eased out the situation. " I swear! We thought you would be like really tough on us and reject me point blank.", his friend said excitedly.

His friend had thought the situation had cooled down. " Hey! I didn't tell my decision yet. So don't think that I am okay.", she said. The mood between them became tense. " I am sorry. We will leave. My friend jumps into conclusions quickly.", he said, dragging his friend for a walk.

" Where are you going? I haven't told you my decision. Why are you in hurry?" , she said. They stopped and waited desperately for her reply.

" I accept your friendship under only one condition", she said. "What is it?", he asked. " Don't be afraid.", she said. His friend smiled and shook hands with her. Arjun was about to leave them alone but she stopped him. " Where are you going ? Join us!", she said.

( To be continued)

Red roses - Part 6

He was overjoyed though he had doubts about whether her decision would be easily accepted by his friend. Everything was fine only if he bought two love birds together.

Love is serious thing and to be the Cupid is highly complicated task. He had thought the main task of convincing the girl was over but the real headache started now. His friend was having weak knees of confronting her. To cover his coward ness, he said that he wasn't sure about her.

Arjun wanted to slap him hard. After all the hardship, his friend was giving up. He banged his fist on the wall where he was standing next to. His fist ached though it didn't reduce his anger.

" No more excuses. You are coming. Dude! Atleast you can do this for what risks I have taken.", Arjun yelled at him. His friend smiled weakly. After lot of thinking and no nos, his friend agreed.

They met her at the same place at same time. She was dressed in plain white sleeveless shirt and short red polka dot skirt. Her skin glowed like bright shining sun in the blue sky. Her hair was tied in high pony. She wore big smile on her mouth displaying her pear like teeth.

Both the men stared at the beauty. No one had courage to speak first. " Hi!", she said. Both didn't reply. She waved her hand at their faces for their response. " Ok then if we are going to stand , gaping at each other. I should leave.", she said while she started to walk. "Wait! We didn't mean to make you wait. We were just short of words.", his friend said. She turned to see them and simply stared at them with furious face.

( To be continued)

Red roses- Part 5

Her one look was more than enough to make his heart skip a beat. For a minute he had forgotten the reason he had come to her. But he had to control his feelings. This was for his friend.

"Yes?", she asked in sweet voice that made him numb. The words were stuck in his brain. He wished he wasn't in this situation where he was getting pulled by the force called infactuatiom. He also wished that he didn't have to confront this spactacular beauty for his friend.

" Yes?", she repeated again. After few minutes of blinking and thinking, he said, " Ummm! Hi.. What I came to say .. Well! I ..." It was disappointing. He couldn't say anything clearly and she was about to leave. " Wait!! Sorry ! My friend likes you and is crazy about you. I just wanted to say that if you could give him a chance and accept his friendship.", he said at last.

There was eerie silence. He regretted that he shouldn't have said that. " I am sorry. I don't know your friend and don't share the same feelings as your friend does.", she said, putting an end to all hopes.

He had to do something. He couldn't let his friend's crush fly away. " It's your right to say no but my friend is also entitled to your friendship. I am not asking for anything more than your acceptance of his friendship.", he said. She smiled and shook her head.  " Why should I say yes to this friendship? Your friend doesn't even have courage to profess his love and he has to take your help. How can I believe your friend can be good friend to me ?",she said.

She was right. His friend didn't have courage to even approach the girl. He was simply wasting his time for his timid friend. He thanked her for listening and started towards opposite direction. " Excuse me! You didn't listen to me fully. I have only put my opinion and I am yet to tell you my decision.", she said. He was startled and asked, " What do you mean?" " Tell your friend, I will tell him my decision only if he comes up to me and express his feelings clearly", she said.

( To be continued)

Red roses - Part 4

He couldn't see his friend's sulking throughout the day. He had to do something. But he had tried every possible method. He had taken his friend to their favorite hangouts. He had also taken him to football match at the sports bar and the match was exciting one where their favorite team had won.

Unfortunately his friend was only interested in drinking the different kinds of poison. He would start drinking from the time he wakes up till the night. Alcohol had become the only solution to his injuries. Arjun was saddened by his friend's inability to come out of this mess.

The morining walks had become routine for Arjun though his friend didn't come with him.  He would buy the morning newspaper and cup of hot tea after the walk. But buying newspaper was not to enhance his awareness about world, it was meerly to see the girl. Alas! He hadn't seen her for many days after incident.

As usual after his morning walk, he bought the newspaper and started reading headlines. He was bored reading the same negative news. Today was no different with news about a boy who died of unexplained condition. He couldn't understand about how can one die due to watching from the telescope. This was insane. Newspapers publishers  had no other work than publish these baseless news.

He sipped the tea and looked towards the stall where she would buy the roses. She wasn't there. He took another sip and looked again. It had burnt his tongue. The reason of burning his mouth was not because of hot tea but due to her unexpected presence.

She looked like an angel in the white floral dress. Her creamy skin was inviting. She was staring at him with curious grey eyes. Her lips were full and deep red. He couldn't control his feet and walked towards her. His hands sunk into the pockets of his track suit due to his inability to control his shaking nervous fingers.

(To be continued

Red roses - Part 3

His injuries caused by early incident was stilI didn't heal. Now with this accident , fresh wounds replaced the old ones, creating more pain. For love, sacrifices such as physical injuries are nothing. He got up with his full body pain. His friend got deep cut on his forehead which affected him mentally. He was worried about his physical appearance though he knew the scar would eventually disappear.

After being satisfied that they were fine, they looked out for the girl. She was nowhere to be seen. Where did she disappear? She was there few minutes ago and now she wasn’t there. Maybe she didn’t realise there was any accident. But she was quite close and people who were far from the scene had surrounded Arjun and his friend to see what had happened. It was surprising that the accident didn’t even catch her slightest attention. Maybe she didn’t like to be social audience to accidents or any social chaos.

Whatever it was, Arjun felt bad that he couldn’t help out his friend. He was so sure that this plan would work. He had tested all the odds. Unfortunately he missed out one small and important thing - his attention on the road. “ If that dumb dog had not come on the way, we would have got the girl!”, he said it out loud. “ Dumb dog!! It was your poor sight that caused all this! If you had been more careful, we would have definitely made it.”, his friend blamed him

It was three am. Lights were still burning in Rohan’s room. He was an ordinary teenager who loved staying up late. His constant checking his neighbour’s business through a telescope had become his recent hobby.  It was humorous sight. Some of his neighbours divulging in naughty activities. Some would be fighting and raising their voices. But one thing that caught his eye was a house located two blocks across a house that was opposite of his.

The lights of that house would be on throughout the night. He would daily see a figure doing something suspicious. However he couldn’t get clear picture of what it was doing. His curiosity increased every day. He wanted to know more about the figure. So he would sometimes stay up late night to see what it was up to.Today was such night. He looked carefully adjusting the vision of his telescope. At last he saw the figure carrying something heavy downstairs. After careful observation he realised it was a man. He couldn’t understand why it was taking the man downstairs.

The man didn’t move or react to any of movements. Was he dead? Maybe it was a murder. He opened his eyes wide. He was witnessing a murder at his neighbourhood. He left his telescope for sometime and called the police. He got back to his business of looking at his neighborhood. He had to get picture of murderer. He adjusted the vision again. It was getting clearer and clearer. Before he could get the clear picture of the figure, the figure appeared itself in the telescope. It had thin sharp tool which looked like larger version of needle. He was petrified by the sight. He couldn’t understand how did figure appear on his telescope. He tried to get his hold off from the telescope. But he couldn’t and felt as if he was stuck to it. When he felt he could release himself, the figure pricked his eyes with that tool. He cried due to pain. Blood poured out of his eyes.

( To be continued)

Red roses - Part 2

Arjun unlike other guys was happy being the love messenger. He spent three days to send love messages on behalf of his friend. But it failed miserably. The first time when he tried, he had sent a message through a kid who was waiting for the bus. Unfortunately the kid was a teenager trying to catch a bus for his tuition. But Arjun had to get his message sent to the girl. He had promised his friend. He hate breaking them.

Instead of sending the message the damned kid exchanged numbers with her and didn’t even bothered to share the number with him.  Arjun came back home disappointed. However the next day he came up with the strangest idea which he believed would work. He had tried this many times and it did work.

He stood, waiting for the girl. His purpose of morning walk now contained a mission- How to connect two love bird ( though he had no clue about how the female love bird felt for her male counterpart. Atlast!! After waiting for an hour, she came. He gathered his courage and folded the message he had written in form of paper planes. He threw it across her. But it fell inside the blossoms of the fat lady standing next to her.  The fat lady took it out from where it had fallen.The lady walked towards him and hit him badly. Due to this commotion, people surrounded him to show him how indecent he was. He came home with broken bones and fractured leg.

After few days of hospital care, he was back to his old tricks. His obligations towards his friend was still not over. He wasn’t sure whether his friend was serious or not. Maybe it was his adrenaline drive of making two people meet even though there was probability of any kind of love existing between the two. He didn’t like to keep the tasks undone.

He drew up a plan of how to get the girl. He weighed pros and cons of the plan and after lot of groundwork, he came up with foolproof plan. He had made sure that this didn’t fail. So the day arrived when he would execute the imaginary work. He woke up early morning in order to be the first one to buy all the roses from the shop vendor. He bought the red roses and paid the vendor royally. The girl came at her usual time. She asked for the red roses and the vendor said that he didn’t have any and asked her to buy the other flowers. She wasn’t interest and walked away slowly. Her face became dull. She walked with her face down.

He was happy as well as sad. But he had to get the two people acquainted. This was the best possible way. He had called his friend to be on time with the bike. He prayed that his lazy friend made on time. Though he knew his friend’s changed behaviour after seeing the girl but old habit don’t change easily. Atlast! His friend came with the bike. Arjun didn’t complain for the five minutes delay. His friend got out of the bike and sat behind while Arjun made himself comfortable being the controller of the bike. He rode slowly towards the girl. His eyes was on the path she was walking and his attention was focused on how to control his friend’s weak knees. Suddenly he turned his eyes towards the road and saw a puppy near the wheels of the bike. He used the brakes to halt the bike. Due to the force he used to stop his bike, he almost lost the balance of the vehicle and fell hard on the ground. His friend was also wounded badly.

(To be continued)

Red Roses- Part 1

He had no idea where he was. The last time he had remembered, he was drinking lemonade with his girlfriend in the porch. She had invited him home for the first time… the reason wasn’t clear.. it was about her sister. He had come to support her. But how did he reach here was still mystery for him. He looked at himself. He was sitting on wooden chair  with his hands and legs tied to chains. He observed his surroundings. It was a dark room though a tiny flickering bulb manage to dispel light across the room.

He saw a figure on the other side of the room. It was a human form which did bring a little relief to him. However this didn’t last long. He saw the person sharpening his tools. He wasn’t sure the reason for why was the person doing that. He tried to release himself. But the chains were too tight. He felt restless. He wanted leave this dreadful place. Where was she? He had to find his girlfriend.

The person he assumed to be human appeared towards him. It was really close to him with drill machine roaring loud. His eyes were wide open with fear. The fear was due to two main reason- One was because the human person in front of him was far from being human. It was a devil in form of demonic creature. He couldn’t describe what it looked like. Maybe it was due to second reason which was the roaring drilling machine. The creature had bought it next to his thighs.The distance between the his flesh and drilling machine was less. He screamed loudly. Unfortunately his screams were unheard because the room was basement that was two floors below the actual house.

                                     

                              

        ****  Three years back ****

It was beautiful morning. The birds were chirping , creating their own tune of welcoming the morning. The raindrops of last night was still fresh on the green leaves of the plants and trees. The sun had just woken up from it’s nap. Few early risers had began their day with the walks and other business. Arjun was literally sleep walking on the jogging track. It wasn’t his mistake but his friend’s persistence of losing the weight on the tummy.

He was thin though he had few calories stored on his tummy. He didn’t had to wake up so early. Unfortunately he had to support his friend’s wish of being there for him. However he realized that it wasn’t the weight but for a girl. Apparently she would come at this time to buy red roses. He had caught him red handed when his friend had spilt out the truth behind his morning walk during one of their alcoholic nights.

Though he refused to come, but his friend’s ongoing request to accompany him made Arjun  to say yes. As usual he found a bench where he could sit and take few minutes of nap. He had almost settled when he saw his friend’s dream girl buying red roses from the vendor. She indeed was a beauty fallen down to the earth. His body came to life at one glance at her. He looked around him. There were men who stopped doing what they were doing and was simply looking at her. No wonder his friend loved his morning walks and especially gazing at the girl who bought red roses.

( To be continued)