“Dufffeeerrr!!! Come down soon!! I am damn hungry!!” Ishaan screeched over the phone. Crazy guy! Both being in the same house, he makes phone calls and calls me downstairs to come for dinner. “Joker! Chill! I am coming.” I said and ended the call. I am not in a mood to eat anything. Still, for the sake of Mom and Ishaan, I have to. I got up and quickly changed my dress and hurried down before Ishaan makes another phone call. “Finally!! You are here bhabhiji!! I am dying with hunger here and what were you doing there?” Ishaan asked me dramatically. “Uff! Ishaan! She must have been talking to HARSHA. Am I right, Anu?? Vaise, What gift he has sent you? The parcel arrived in the evening and I placed that in your room.” Mom said smiling. Now what will I say to them? That HE has sent me gifts or He didn’t have time to call me? I plastered a fake smile on my face. But to my bad luck, Ishaan found it out. “Something is wrong with bhabhiji, Hai na mom?” He said as his eyes shone with suspicion. Mom looked at me. “Come on Annie, I know that BUSY ACTOR HUSBAND OF YOURS HASN’T WISHED YOU YET” He said angrily. “Ishaan, He is your brother! For god’s sake do understand!!” Mom told him. I sat with null expression. “Brother? Nice joke! When he decided to join that profession, that profession which snatched our DAD, He is no longer my brother. After he became an actor, he totally forgot us. Ok, leave us, But what about her, mom? What was her mistake? Was choosing him to be her husband is her mistake? She is suffering. My sister is suffering. Do see that mom!!” Ishaan’s eyes welled up with tears, as he said that. I looked at him, totally stunned. I felt so happy to have Ishaan as my brother-in-law who considers me as his own sister. Hearing his words, I couldn’t control my tears. Mom as well. “Years back, I saw you suffer mom. The same thing is happening with her. Again. This time, I will not stay quiet. It is better that you better divorce him and start your new life with someone who could make you happy, Annie!!” He said. “Stop it Ishaan!! Stop it!!” I shouted at the top of my voice. “How dare you? It is my life and I will face it. You better stay out of this!” I shouted. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. Ishaan might be a caring brother. But what he said was completely wrong. I LOVE HARSHA. ONLY HARSHA. I can’t imagine some other guy being my husband. ” Ishaan! Have you gone mad?” Mom said as her hand came in contact with his cheeks. “Mom” I whimpered. “Anu is right, you stay out of their life.” She warned him. I ran upstairs to my room. What kind of a birthday is this? The worst ever birthday, I ever had. I know that Ishaan’s words were out of concern towards me. But I cannot live without Harsha. Never ever. You might think that I am speaking like as if we were living together now. Though we live afar, the mere thought that I am legally HIS, is enough for me. I still remember, how I met him for the first time, a year ago.
********FLASHBACK*****
“Nieve! You know what, Harsha has come here!! Oh god!! I am going mad now!!” My best friend Sandya aka Sandy squealed. Nieve is my nickname which is known only to my dad and Sandy. It was one of the parties, which my businessman dad threw for his success. I rarely attend those parties. But that day, I was forced to attend, all thanks to Dad. It was in that party, I saw him. I am not a movie buff and I rarely watch movies. But,I knew that he is the heartthrob of many girls. Because, my best friends were huge die hard fans of him. I was dressed in a simple and casual wear, for which I got angry glares from my dad. “Nieve, look! There, he is!” Sandy whispered pointing the direction. I tilted my head to the direction which she pointed. But, I couldn’t see him. I could see only the blue shirt. “Sandy, Is he wearing a blue shirt?” I asked her. “Yes! Nieve, did you see him?” She asked me back. I nodded in no. The party was fully crowded with people and lots of people are surrounding him, due to which I couldn’t see him. I leaned to see him. But still, I couldn’t. I stood on my toes and stretched myself up, to see him. “Nieve, what are you doing? It’s ok. We’ll ask uncle to introduce us to him” She said. “Sandy, are you mad? I don’t want to meet him. I will see him from distance.” I said. ” I am not a mad, nieve. You have become mad.I am going to ask uncle. Better, you come too.” She said and went. I stood on my toes again to see him. As, I stretched myself more, I lost my balance and fell awkwardly on the floor. The whole party’s attention fell over me. And lo! He came into the sight of my eyes. There he was, dressed in a simple blue shirt and a jeans. Then, I realised that he too saw me. Gosh!! That too in this awkward situation. My dad looked at me angrily. I stood up. “Sorry folks! You guys enjoy the party.” I said with a sheepish smile and thank god, everyone turned and continued enjoying the party. I saw him, looking at me with amusement. “Nieve! What did you do? I said you not to indulge in such monkey acts!” Sandy said as she held my hand and dragged me from there. It was a bizarre day for me. The most bizarre.
************END OF FLASHBACK*************
That was the first time, I saw him in real. I could still visualise him wearing that blue shirt. That time, I didn’t know why I felt a sudden urge to see him that day. Till now, that is being married to him, I don’t know why I did like that. But, at that time, I didn’t love him. In fact, those were the days, I hated love. Slowly, I fell into the trap of love. My relationship with Harsha can’t be explained in words. The way I feel for him, the way I care for him is something that I have ever felt with any other guy. And I can’t imagine with any other guy. I don’t know whether Harsha feels for me the same way, I feel for him. But, I just want him to talk and spend time with me. I just hope it does happen.
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“Doll! You know what! He is coming here today. The shooting for his new movie is gonna happen here and he is gonna be here for 3 months!!” Mom chirped happily when I entered the dining hall for breakfast. Yesterday, I couldn’t sleep well after those incidents. Ishaan was there sitting calm with a newspaper in his hand and sipping his green tea. He looked at me and Mom and shook his head and continued his work. I smiled at mom to make her happy. I don’t think that HE will be able to spend time with us. Ishaan’s expressions revealed the same. Though I know that he could not spend time with us, I couldn’t resist myself from being happy. After all, I am going to see him after 3 months. Yes, you heard it right. 3 months. Technology is improving day by day except for us, perhaps. Till now, no face time, or video calls. Except for those two minute voice calls, which goes about “Had food? How are you? How are mom and Ishaan?”. I am so desperate to see him. At least, I could see him. Mom said that he is coming here by evening. I hope evening comes soon.
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HARSHA – PRABHAS