A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Mumbai

The city that never sleeps. Number of people are struggling to earn their bread & butter, making a living and chasing their dreams. It never fails to attract the job seekers, artists. More or less,everyone in this city finds a reason to live.

Aarav, an introvert guy working in a well known IT company was striving to earn promotions, perks and especially the customers. Being a sales manager, it was obligatory for him to maintain better public relations. His vintage eyeglasses, oily hair and patchy beard made his first impression as a fainthearted person.

He always hated the family functions, reunions but that doesn't mean he had no friends. He had a few friends with whom he was in his best behavior. He liked to keep his friend circle limited. By looking at him, nobody could ever predict that he was an artist. He used to draw amazing sketches in his early college days.

He shut down his desktop and checked the time. It was 10:30 pm. The best thing about winter nights in Mumbai is the charm in the air and the serenity possessed by it. He went towards the elevator and checked his cellphone. It displayed a missed call from his Amma. He called her and asked about Appa and his sister who was about to get married. After couple of minutes, he hung up the call and went inside the elevator.

When he came outside the elevator at the ground floor, he lit up one Gold flake and started walking towards his bike. "Am I too much shy ? What the fuck happens to me when I'm surrounded by number of people? Being too good in programming, why am I supposed to do the work which I don't like at all. He opened his Instagram and saw the stories of his colleagues chilling in Goa with their girlfriends & beer. He had a habit of comparing his life with the others. He started the bike and drove towards his apartment. He had mixed thoughts in his corporate mind. His introvert nature, being single topped the list. He didn't want to drink the water having pale smell of Maggie masala along with some noodles tonight. As soon as he reached home, he ordered two pizzas along with a choco lava cake, threw his bag and laid on his bed. Being fed up of Instagram, he decided to turn on the TV to watch Netflix but Radhika's dumb dialogues didn't entertain him anymore. He switched off the TV and lit a cigarette. When he was about to smoke, his cellphone rang. He received the call.

"Sir, we're extremely sorry for the inconvenience. We cannot deliver the order at your location. Your payment will be refunded in 24 hrs."

"What the fuck !! " He was about to shout but the call got disconnected. "What a great life I've got. Wow!!", He said being disappointed. The cravings for the pizza made him desperate and he picked up the keys and decided to go to the nearest Domino's place. As soon as he went inside, he saw a receptionist busy in doing some shitty stuff on her phone.

"How can you just say that we can't deliver? I've already paid for the order. You should have told this thing while placing the order itself. Who is responsible for all this mess? "

"Sir, we're sorry for the inconvenience. If you still have any complaints, you can talk to our manager.", She said with almost no facial gestures.

Aarav went to the Manager. "Excuse me, I placed my order on phone and after half an hour, I got a phone call from you saying my location is out of reach from your delivery service. What the ...", He said furiously.

"Listen sir, we're not..."

"Aaravvv...heyyy..Aahhh..after soo many years..", the manager almost jumped from her chair.

"Jas..ummm sorry I mean Jasleen..what a surprise !!", Aarav said.

"Cut the crap dude, you can call me Jas okay? " She said looking at him.

"Yeah sure, Jas.. How's life? ", He asked.

"Great..what about you Aarav ?", She replied.

"Umm..good, actually I'm working..."

"Ohh god, can we just go outside please? Tell me your story afterwards. Come let's explore this beautiful city. Pizza treat on my account today.", She said winking her eye.

"But Jas, we're sitting in Domino's itself. You can give me a treat here also.", Aarav said adjusting his eyeglasses.

"No yaar Aarav, this place is a shit. Let's go to Pizzahut." She was very excited for the treat.

"Wow, now you sound like a true Domino's manager.", He laughed.

"Shut up yaar. I'm fed up of this ambiance. Let's go na.."

"Okay. Wait, let me bring my bike and then we'll go.", Aarav said wearing his helmet.

"Are you crazy? No bike stuff today. We're going to take a long walk tonight. Tell me about you, how are you? How's life? How's your girlfriend?", She asked.

"Oh wait Jas, take it easy. First of all, I'm fine. Secondly, my life is also good and I don't have a girlfriend but I'd like to..."

"Aahh...here it is, Pizzahut. Let's go quickly." She interrupted him.

Aarav seemed to be unhappy. It was the second time when Jasleen interrupted him.

While eating pizza, she was continuously speaking about her life, her job, friends and hangouts without giving him a single chance to talk. She paid the bill after which both of them came outside and again continued their walk.

They came across a Pharmacy. Aarav wanted to buy a mosquito repellent cream. "Wait, I'll be back in a minute.", He said.

He came after a couple of minutes and said, "okay let's go."

Jasleen was constantly staring at him when he was putting something in his sweater.

"Aarav, have you bought a cond..?", She asked mischievously.

"What the.. shut up yaar, it's a mosquito repellent cream.", He almost shouted.

"Oh sorry, I thought it was a cond..", she laughed.

"You're impossible", Aarav said.

"Okay okay listen, let me ask you directly, are you a virgin?", She asked.

There was an awkward silence which was broken by Aarav's answer.

"Umm..yes", he said.

She laughed loudly. "Ohh my cutie pie...hehe..a sweet virgin guy & by the way dude, nobody dies a virgin. Life fucks everyone.", She said.

"Shut up Lady Mirza Ghalib after four drinks. Fuck your philosophy.", Aarav said.

They both laughed loudly.

"Okay jokes apart now. Aarav, what's the problem dear? Sorry for all the shitty talks. You seem to be really frustrated with your life. We've been knowing each other since college. I was the one who knew all your dark secrets. I've seen all the mood swings of yours but I never saw you like this. You laugh a lot but your eyes are sad. Tell me. Let's drink tea from that tapari. Come.", Jasleen held his arm and took him to the tapari.

She brought two cups and sat beside Aarav. She patted on his back and said, "Speak up friend."

"Jas, you know what, I'm not happy with my job. I mean it's not about the corporate world. I always wanted to work in Corporate but this sales thing is not my cup of tea. You know after that incidence in college, the betrayal. Let's not get into that, I reduced my friend circle. Now, being an introvert, I always have the fear of expressing what I feel. When I see my colleagues or friends getting engaged, enjoying their lives, I get very anxious. It's not right but I become jealous of their lives. Just because I lack extrovercy doesn't mean that I'm not fit to work. You can ask my college friends about my programming skills, I used to code for hours together. I cannot quit my job now because they're paying me a fat salary & I want to help my patents financially for my sister's marriage but I also want someone to take care of me, to be with me in my all ups and downs.", Aarav said with wet eyes.

"Hey Aarav, are you crying? ", She again patted on his back.

"See you're not an introvert dear. You opened up in front of me. You've a very pure heart but the annoying thing about you is you've already decided that your life is dull. You're craving for a spulmate, true love but you know what, you can't love someone if you can't love yourself. This life is a god's gift dude. Why are you willing to be dependent on someone else for your happiness? I've seen your sketches in college. Have you ever sketched anything like that afterwards? Look at me. What do you think I laugh a lot means I'm very happy? No dear, but this is what the life is all about, fears, challenges, problems, solutions, ups, downs. Don't compare your life with anyone else. Let them put their Instagram stories. Who knows maybe they're trying to hide their tears with the help of filters. Live your life to the fullest man. This is the first and last life. Enjoy every little success, failure and try to open up your emotions. I know it takes time but we've the whole life dude. Focus on developing yourself and try to be happy most of the times because life is so cool that it doesn't want us to face the problems with a sad look on our faces. ", She said and took a sip.

Aarav was looking at her as if he was experiencing a dream.

"Thank you so much Jas. I think these were the words which I needed. I'll definitely think upon it.", Aarav said with tears in his eyes.

"Chal ab thanks mat bol yaar. Mein nahi rone wali tere jaise. Aarav, very happy to see you after so many years. I miss the crazy us yaar." Now she was about to become emotional.

"Aarav, it's too late dude. Now let's go.", She said wearing her leather jacket.

"Come on. Give me a healthy hug now you dumbo. See you Aarav. All the best for your future life.", She said widening her arms.

Aarav hugged her happily and asked, "Jas, can I have your number please?"

"No you can't", she said.

He looked at her surprisingly.

"Let destiny make our nightouts like this and not that fucking cellphone. You won't need any healing words again. You mustn't. Take care dear. Byee !! ", She said smiling at him.

"Byee Jas.", He smiled back and kept on smiling.

                    " A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."

                                                                                             - Jean de la Fontaine