Part 01
Episode 01 – Diamond and Rose
The sky was clear blue, the weather was chilly and the sun was radiating warm, mellow light. It was one fine morning November; the onset of winter could be felt, with a faint presence of autumn. There was translucent clouds of mist floating in the air making the place to look like a wonderland. Well, this ‘wonderland place’ was a congested residential area that had multiple storied houses constructed next to one another and sheltered atleast five families in each of them. The streets were crooked, narrow and always decorated with dog poops, overflowing garbage bins and clogged drain water. You would even be welcomed with gang wars of dogs. People who resided here were mostly middle class working people and students that is girls and boys from other smaller towns who were pupils at the prestigious colleges in the city. In one such building at the end of the street which was almost the last of storied houses lived Pranitha.
The building had four floors and each floor had two small houses, spacious enough for hiding and not living. The owner of the house was Mr. Pashupati, a man in his mid forties who stared with foxy eyes at every female creature that passed him. He was a short man with a dark complexion, an oval face, forever oiled black fringes on his head that was already going bald at the sides, usually in his baniyan and shorts, at the front of his door either sitting and shouting out to every known person that walks past ,or talking with that typical landlord voice to any of his tenants who took the stairs, except you know the girls who lived on the first floor. This building was actually owned by his wife Kamala who inherited it from her father, that poor old man had breathed his last soon after the marriage and ofcourse Pashupati was thankful for that. Though he excersised his authority heartily over his tenants, his wife was incharge of him. This morning too he stood at the gate brushing his teeth with one hand and holding the newspaper in the other, until he saw Pranitha who was walking to and fro in that tiny two feet corridor. She was memorising her notes for one last time before going to write the final exam of her final semester. “Pranithaa…..oh studying for last exam….huh?” he asked her showing all his teeth that shined from the toothpaste foam which was slowly trickling from the side of his wide open mouth. “Yes uncle, gotta do my best, last one right?” “Yeah…”he nodded still giggling like an idiot. The first thing I do after finishing the exams is find a new house and get rid of this foxy Pranitha said to herself as she went inside. Her heart burst with joy at the thought of finishing her exams, she had won a scholarship to study in US for two years, and if she did well, a job was guaranteed plus she also had someone special that was accompanying her on the journey. She saw her roommate Neha still sleeping, “Girl get up….go revise, get ready for the exam, don’t you want to write”. “Revising is for all you toppers not me…get lost” mumbled Neha beneath her sheets. Pranitha arranged her college bag and went out of the door again. She had chosen this rental accommodation for two reasons, one it was cheap; two it faced east, she was that girl who eagerly awaited the dawn, as she enjoyed the dusk .
Pranitha was an orphan; at three years old she had lost her parents in a car accident and was brought up by her grandmother and relatives. Though they loved her, she always felt that the more they cared the more she was indebted to them, no love can be equal to parental love, isn’t it? maybe except for…She was ambitious, confident and strived towards perfection, she always looked at the bright side of everything, she had manifested her whole future and was just waiting for an opportunity to cease.
The mellow light was now flashing her face, she closed her eyes and took deep breath feeling the warmth in every cell of the skin, her mind was subconsciously drawing energy from the universe preparing her for a whole new life. “Ok madam, nice sunbathing….now get inside and take a shower before I finish brushing my teeth” Neha came behind her nudging. ” A yo idiot girl, you were drawing your sheets on my face, a min ago, ….” Pranitha turned to her. “That was ten minutes ago, madam , now its already 8:15, go run….” she playfully kicked Pranitha’s back. Half an hour later, the girls were taking two steps at a time, pulling their college bags that was slipping from their shoulders as they jumped and hopped down the stairs. They started towards their college which was a fifteen minute walk from their house, “Running late is it for college huh?” “yes uncle” they replied in unison to the shopkeeper who was looking at them from the counter of his shop. All the way long, they kept hopping to avoid the filth on the road, and occasionally greeted the area inhabitants who spoke to them. Pranitha was not an exceptionally good looking girl, neither was she very ordinary. She had a really captivating eyes, anyone could read them like a written paper, she could blend in and become one among hundred but she could also become the most eye catchy girl with just a touch. It was her mood and her personality that made her attractive. Anyone who met her could feel her aura and get a unique vibe.
After scurrying past speeding vehicles and jammed traffic signals, the girls reached the college gate at 9:05 ; a little panting, a little sweating. Pranitha went to the noticeboard scanned for the room allotted to her, and then stood talking to her classmates, but her eyes still kept searching. At the ring of the first bell everyone started going in but Pranitha lingered on with vexed brows and pursed lips, stretching her neck like a crane looking towards the gate. When she saw him coming, her frown slowly changed to a half excited smile. He was running hastily from the parking lot to the gate. “You dumb ass…they already rung the first bell…why are you late?” she bopped him on the head as he came panting. “No time for all this, tell me the room number” he asked breathing heavily, scratching his head. “Its room number five, come on” , he followed her as she climbed the stairs. They dropped their bags outside the room and did a little fist bump and whispered “All the best”. He sat in the first bench, next to the door and she went to the fourth one in the last row near the window, because that is where their register numbers were written duh!
Abhay and Pranitha were classmates, since the very first day of college they knew they had a connection which was no ordinary infatuation.The first time they looked eye to eye , they knew they had seen each other’s soul. When everyone in the class introduced themselves and spoke about their future goals, Pranitha had said how she wanted to be a successful entrepreneur and create her own brand. The confidence in her voice and her ambition, had told Abhay that she was the girl worth to die right next to. They started as friends and slowly discovered that they had similar view on so many things. He liked her practical approach to life, she was romantic but didn’t crave for trivial attention in a relationship, her expectations from other person were so mature. They never actually confessed their love for each other; they just knew it was mutual. Pranitha had felt overwhelmingly grateful for having found such an understanding potential partner. He kept things simple, knew whom to be friends with, whom to trust and when to surprise his girlfriend. He shared all her dreams and aspirations, and never gave up on her. They would go on for days without talking to each other, or seeing each other’s face not because they fought but because they focused on their individual selves. Once they finished and got back, they would be head over heels in love. Though their souls united in love, they still existed as two different individuals, neither of them faced the need to identify with the other every time.
“You know I’m goin to call you diamond” she said scooping ice cream with her tongue. They were walking in an exhibition ground. “Diamond….?! weird… why of all the cute names you want to call me a thing?” “Because you know diamonds are the most precious and valuable stone in the world. And you dumb ass are precious to me” she smiled and looked gorgeously with sun rays lighting her from behind like a halo. “Ok…then you know what I’m goin to call you?” “What?” “Rose…I’m goin to call you Rose always a red one because you are my love forever, you are outstanding, courageous and beautiful” “Oh, really!! hmm…not bad…actually….Diamonds and Roses, it can become a pretty good brand name eh?” ‘yea” “Yea” she started running and he chased her.
The bell rang for a whole minute at 12:30 and everyone came out with a look of relief on their face. Pranitha and Abhay had done well, they were hopeful of passing with a distinction. After half an hour of handshakes, hugs and goodbyes, they took leave of their friends “So…are you ready to fly, my Rose?” asked Abhay whistling and moving his hands in front of her face imitating a plane, “Of course my Diamond” replied Pranitha smiling ear to ear. “Oh wait you look wonderful today, how about a kiss…umm….” Abhay started drawing his lips towards hers “No you got a whole life for that” she pushed him back and they walked down the road swinging their held hands.
They seemed like two happy humans who were not altogether adults nor were they little kids, maybe a bit of both, glad to be together, dreaming about their future and completely unaware of what the universe had in store !!!
Thanks for reading..!
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Words from within... 