During college gathering, I couldn’t attend Rohini’s calls and then she didn’t call me up. She might have also got upset with me like Sarita, I thought. So, I called up her hostel number and asked for her.
‘Hello’ she said.
‘Hi, Dr. Rohini’ I said.
‘Who’s this?’
‘This is Shahrukh Khan from Yash Raj Studio, Mumbai. How you are doing?’ I tried to imitate SRK’s voice, but she recognized it.
‘Oh! So, finally you got time to speak to me, Mr. Raj.’ She seemed sarcastic.
‘I had time after my college gathering, but you didn’t call only. You know that I didn’t have your number, so…’ I explained.
‘Achcha, I thought you might be busy with your heroines and girlfriends, so I didn’t call you. Moreover, tomorrow is valentine day, so….’
‘So what? I mean, you know that I don’t have any girlfriend. And all my heroines are already engaged(I just rapped).’
‘Hmm. But when are you gonna get engaged?’
‘God knows. He must have made someone for me. So I am just waiting for his signal,’ I imitated SRK, once again.
‘You are very filmy, Raj.’
‘Yes, I am. But what about you? What are you gonna do tomorrow?’ I asked her curiously.
‘Nothing much apart from classes and practical. As you know I am not into roaming with boys and all.’
‘Yeah. I know you don’t have a boyfriend.’
‘See, it’s not like if I don’t have a boyfriend, I am missing on something. I purposely avoid making boyfriends, because I don’t want to get into the vicious cycle of love, relationship, and breakup.’ Her priorities and expectations seemed very clear. ‘She is a difficult girl, Raj,’ I told myself, as she disconnected the call. Next morning my cell phone buzzed for a message, at 7 am.
‘I love you Rajesh. Happy Valentine day,’ It read, however the number was unknown.
I called back the number, but there was no response. I suspected some mischief from my friend circle. Once, I thought if it was Rohini. But the next moment my mind denied the possibility of a practical girl like her proposing me.
‘Have you got a cell phone?’ I asked Suhas while starting for college.
‘No. Why?’
‘Nothing special. Someone has sent me this SMS from an unknown number,’ I showed him the message.
‘You are really lucky, Shahrukh. I am waiting for someone to send me something like this, but no one did it till date. So now I myself will propose Vaidehi by offering this card.’ He showed me the valentine card he bought for Vaidehi.
‘Are you really serious, Suhas?’
‘What do you mean by that? Yes, I am serious. If Javed can be serious about Sugandhika and Rahul for Sarita, then why can’t I be serious for Vaidehi?’ Suhas went emotional and I did not want to discourage him, so I kept my advice to myself until we reached college.
In the break, my cell phone buzzed for a call.
‘Hello,’ I picked the call.
‘Hi Raj, how are you?’ It was a female voice, from the same unknown number that messaged me in the morning.
‘I am fine. But who are you?’ I asked, as my heartbeats increased.
‘Didn’t you recognize me?’
‘I am sorry, but I didn’t. Now can you please let me know your name?’
‘Can you guess my name?’
‘Is that Rohini?’ I asked, while there was no response for a minute.
‘Hello, Hello’ I was shouting.
‘I am sorry Raj, but I couldn’t dare to tell this to you over phone, so I messaged you. But don’t mistake me; I really love you, from the bottom of my heart,’ I couldn’t believe that Rohini confessed her love to me.
‘But.’ before I could say something, she said, ‘I am not forcing you for anything. You can take your own time. Whatever is your decision, I’ll accept as I respect you and your decision. Once again, I am sorry to trouble you. Bye. I love you.’ and she disconnected the call.
‘Who’s that?’ Rahul asked and I could not refrain from telling him everything.
‘That’s great yaar. You should be happy. Music please.’ He said.
‘Kuch to hua hai. Kuch ho gaya hai…’ This song from Kal Ho Na Ho started playing on the CD player in canteen, as I identified Rohini and myself with the https://lyrics.
‘Ye leher jisme dono behte hain,
Ye nasha jisme dono rehte hain
Ho na ho isko pyar kehte hain’
Read more.in my upcoming novel, YOU Can't Complete EngineeriNG.?
