O' Suzzanna - Part 6

******  10 Years Later *****

As years had passed by, their friendship grew thicker. Sue always had Jacob's back. She saved him every time he got into trouble. Since the time he reached the age of thirteen, he had always been prone to troubles. But he knew he had Sue with him and she would always get him out every time he got into one. Unlike his rebellious persona. Sue was obedient one. 

Whenever she said lie about him to help him to get out of trouble, people believed her. Jacob's search for Suzzanna had continued till now. His madness for Suzzanna had increased. Ten years ago when Uncle Mark found the singing star in him, he encouraged him to participate in competitions and show. And there Jacob realized that he could use music as means to find his Suzzanna.

He participated in every contest and shows. He won few of them too. But he didn't find Suzzanna. Few months back, a local band in search of lead singer found him. It didn't take him long to make decision to join them. Sue didn't like the idea of him joining the band. However she didn't complain instead she convinced his mother to let him join. Sue always knew there was something fishy about the band. She had heard rumours of drug abuse by the band. She never said anything until now.

It was normal day. Sue cycled towards Jacob's house.  Cool breeze blew over her face. She had been contemplating on whether to accept or reject the admission she had got in good college in Bangalore throughout the journey to his house. She hadn't even shared the news to her parents. She wanted to share it with Jacob first. She wanted to know his opinion. 

When she arrived, Jacob was not there. His mother was watching television.  She greeted her politely and asked about Jacob. "I really don't understand this boy. He is never home. He is always with those bad boys. He only cares about music and band. Nothing else. Sue, can you please put some sense into this boy. You are his good friend. He listens to you.", his mother complained. 

Sue understood her concern. Every mother would like to see her child happy and not misled by bad company. She nodded and hugged her. "Yes Aunty! I would never let your son down. That's a promise.", she said. She headed towards Jacob's hangout. When she reached, she saw her fears turning real. She should have stopped him then. It was too late now. 

(To be continued)

O ' Suzzanna - Part 5

Minutes passed by silently. Sue stared admiringly at her crush. Everything from his blinking long eyelashes, his impatient shaking legs to his momentarily brushing his silky fringe hair on his temple amused her. She wished she could talk to him. But she couldn't think of anything to speak to him.

Jacob was getting bored. Thirty minutes passed and it seemed like a day had passed. He watched his mother happily chatting with her friends. He tried to signal her through eye movements to convey his boredom. But his mother didn't care. He was stuck with Sue. 

"Jacob, wouldn't you show Sue around the house?", his mother said firmly after she noticed him signalling her to let him go. He nodded with disinterest while he walked towards his room and Sue followed him like Mary's little lamb. 

His room was smallest room in the house. A bed and study table were the only furniture that could occupy the room. The blue painted walls were peeling out due to humid weather. His bag and school books occupied the table and guitar occupied his bed. Jacob quickly placed the guitar on his bag to make place for her to sit. 

"You know how to play guitar?", she asked candidly. "I just started learning a week ago.", he said. "Oh! Are you going to Uncle Mark's summer classes to learn guitar?", she asked, trying to strike a conversation with him. "Yes.", he replied irritatingly. "I wanted to join too. But mum didn't allow.", she said gloomily. 

He smirked thinking that it was good for him that she didn't follow him there. There was silence for few minutes. Suddenly she said, "I am sorry for being rude to you about Suzzanna." He was surprised that she still remembered the episode. "It's okay. You were right. That Rasna girl is not my Suzzanna. My Suzzanna is somewhere and I will find her one day.", he said like a lost child. "Can we be friends? I can help you search her.", she said, extending her hand for a shake. He looked at her few minutes and smiled. He shook her hands, forgetting the past and forging the friendship that would last forever.

(To be continued)

O' Suzzanna - Part 4

A year had passed. His puppy love for the Rasna girl was fading away. The ad was not frequently shown within couple of days. He had forgotten Rasna girl but not Suzzanna. Suzzanna was engraved in his heart. He would create imagination of how would Suzzanna appear in real life.

It was cool Sunday evening. Jacob's tanning was hot discussion in the house. His mom was non stop lecturing him against playing under the sun. He had gone out to play cricket with his friends even though his mother forbade him to play. He pretended as if he was listening to her though he was dreaming about his dream girl.

Suddenly the bell rang. Perfect distraction. He ran to open the door. He was shocked when he opened the door. It was Sue and Sue' parents. They greeted him with love. Her mother twisted his cheeks with affection while her father patted his back hard. Sue shyly wished him hello. He had forgotten they were arriving. His mom had invited them for dinner.

He hated them. They were extremely affectionate to him especially when it came to kisses and cuddles. He hated when someone hugged him tight or kissed him on his cheeks. His mother occasionally teased that he wouldn't mind if it was his wife whenever he stopped her from hugging.

They sat as his mother greeted them. He sat near dinning table. He watched them talking to his mother. He wasn't interested in the conversation. Suddenly his gaze went towards Sue. She was staring at him shyly. "What's wrong with her?, he wondered.

When he got bored, he started towards his bedroom. "Where are you going? Why don't you talk to Sue?", his mother ordered. He stopped and did what he was told. He sighed as he sat on the empty chair next to her. Sue's heart beat stopped when she saw her crush too close next to her. There was awkward silence between them. No one tried to break the ice. Their parents were only engrossed in their conversations. They were blind towards the awkwardness between their kids.

(To be continued)

O' Suzzanna - Part 3

They laughed. They giggled. They watched intently their favorite show. They didn't realize when the time had passed. One of Sue's cousin called her for the dinner. She was about to switch off the TV when Jacob's special commercial arrived. "Wait! Wait!", he squealed. Sue jumped to see what captivated her new friend's interest.

It was the Rasna. Sue wondered what was so special in this ad. When the ad was over, he sighed his dissatisfaction. Sue switched off the TV. They walked towards the dinning hall. "You like Rasna?", she asked out of blue. "No, she is Suzzanna.", he said proudly. "Who is Suzzanna?", she asked. "The girl in the ad.", he said irritatingly.

Sue laughed hysterically. "She is not Suzzanna. She is Rasna, dumbo.", she corrected him. "You are dumbo. Her name is not Rasna. Rasna is the drink.", he argued. Their fight continued till they arrived the dinner hall and were having their dinner. "How do you know her name is Rasna? Is she your friend?", Sue asked.

"No, I don't know her. But I know her name is Suzzanna.", he said. "How can you say that? You have not met her or know her. Her name can be anything. Her name could be Rasna too.", she argued. At this point, Jacob's anger was in verge to explode. "You are a bad girl.", he growled. This gathered everyone's attention and Sheena arrived at their table. "What happened?", she asked gently.

"Sue is a bad girl. She is fighting with me. I don't want to talk to her. I want to go home.Where is my mother?", he started weeping. Sheena felt sorry and caressed his cheek. Sue looked sad. "Don't worry child. Your mother will be here soon. She will be done with her dinner soon.", Sheena said. "What did you, Sue? Why did you fight with me?", she asked. "I didn't fight. I was only talking", Sue said softly.

After dinner, it was time to leave. Jacob was relived that they were going. As his mother bid goodbye to her friends and family, Sue arrived from nowhere. She hugged Jacob and released him from her embrace. She said, "I am sorry, Jacob. I didn't mean to hurt you." Jacob smiled and waved goodbye to her as he left. This is how her one sided love story began with Jacob.

(To be continued)

O' Suzzanna- Part 2

A week had passed. Nothing had changed. He was still smitten by Suzzanna. He would always wait for Rasana ad. When it arrived, he would fix his attention to the ad. His mother didn't care much of his innocent crush. She was sure it would pass. 

It was Sunday evening. They were at Sheena's brother's wedding reception. A marquee was set up just outside the house. There was a small stage on the east side of marquee facing the chairs put up for three hundred guests. The guests were elated to see the newly married couple. 

The bride wore a maroon gown while the groom wore black and white suit. Two coolers were kept to make guests comfortable in the scorching heat evening. But it wasn't enough to keep them cool as they bathed in their perspiration.

After few minutes, the crowd started dwindling. Jacob had been begging his mother to leave as he felt stuffed in the tuxedo he wore. His mother shushed him quite many times. To avoid any more embarrassment, she decided to bless the couple and leave. When they were on the stage, his mother congratulated the couple and asked Jacob to present the gift. He did as he was told and said animatedly, "My girlfriend's name is Suzzanna too." The couple laughed and gently patted his back. Jacob was confused at their reaction. Before he could ask anything, the photographer asked them to pose.

Jacob and his mother had started to leave when Sheena appeared from nowhere. "You are leaving already. Please stay for some time. Why don't you have dinner with us?", she said. His mother obliged while Jacob sulked. "Sue, show Jacob around the house and play with him until we call you for dinner. He must be getting bored.", Sheena called her daughter who stood behind her. 

Sue was same age as Jacob. She was delicate . Her round face had nervous smile and almond shaped eyes. She had bob cut. Her fringes fell neatly on her tiny forehead. Discipline was written on her face. She obediently showed around the house and her toys. Jacob was bored. He wasn't interested with her toys or games. He looked at the time on clock hung on the wall. It was time for his favorite cartoon. "Do you watch duck tales?", he asked. "Yes, it's my favorite cartoon.", she replied. An excitement struck his face. "You know what! Let's watch it now.", she said , as they sped towards the hall. At last a cartoon was all it took to break the ice between them.

(To be continued)