My tryst with story writing again :p

“I’m seeing this girl, Sharmishtha.”

“You’re always seeing girls… and what sort of name is that – Shar-mish-Tha!”

“This one’s different – mom likes her, too.”

“Yeah? Then go marry her. By the way, moms are that kind. They like girls with weird names.

Like your new girl – Shar-mish-Tha”
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“Nice shirt. Can’t be your choice. Who got u that?”

“Simi.”

“Simi?”

“Oh, I mean Sharmishtha.”

“Aww… Shar-mish-Tha? Still seeing her? I’m amazed!”

“Yeah. I kinda like her. I mean, umm, a bit more than like… actually, I…”

“My God, you’re blushing! Kaha nahin tha maine, shaadi kar lo?”

“Hmm”

“What hmm?”

“Aaogi meri shaadi mein?”

“Nahin, main nahin aaungi.” She said like SRK in DDLJ, and started laughing. “Vaasu, you know I won’t come. I can’t come… I just can’t come to see you getting married to some Rinky, Pinky or… Shar-mish-Tha”
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It was 11 am and she was deep in slumber when phone started ringing. It was Anupama, Vaasu’s sister.

“Shikha, turant ghar aa jaao!”

The ever-excited Pammi!

“Pammi? What’s it?! Main so rahi thi.”

“Sone ka time gaya Shikha dear… Vaasu is engaged! Aur uska chehra dekhne laayak hai. He’s acting all funny ever since. You absolutely must come over and see his face the moment you………… Shikha? Shikha?!”

“...Who’s the girl?”

“Sharmishtha. I thought you knew.”

“Pammi, I won’t be able to come. Have some relatives at my place. Will talk to you later.”

And it was then that the realization dawned upon her. Vaasu’s getting married. MY Vaasu! He’s engaged.

There’s someone else who’ll call you “my”. Someone else who will shout at you for being late. Someone else who you’ll spend your evenings with – evenings that were a canvas for our dreams. Someone else who will ask you what’s keeping you busy. Someone else you’ll shop for, watch movies with, tell jokes to – jokes no one laughs at… She smiled, remembering his jokes

How can you be so stupid? Why’re you getting married? That too, to Sharmishtha? I don’t even know her. Just saw her pic once. Well, she’s decent-looking… umm ok, good-looking. But no match for you. Though most of the time you end up looking funny, but I have to admit it – all the girls are literally fighting over you. And why her? Must be ‘coz she’s a medico. Never got over your fantasy, didja? Or maybe ‘coz she was your mom's choice.

Didn’t I know YOUR choice? Didn’t I know it all along that we were meant to be together – even before you told me. You had said, “I won’t be happy with anyone else.”… But I couldn't have married you. I’m no wife-material. You definitely deserved someone better. Someone you’ll be able to love, all your life. Someone who’ll love you – though that’d not have been a problem, everyone loves you. So do I. I had loved you all these years. Loved no one but you. In fact, I didn’t even think about anyone else. All those guys – I knew they were not the ones for me. ‘coz deep down inside I knew we’d be together. Yes, I said that we shouldn’t marry. But it didn’t mean that you should marry someone else – LOVE someone else!

You knew it too, didn’t you, that I love you? Didn’t you know no matter what I said, I had always wanted you to be mine? But you’re too good to be mine. You’d have hated me. Hated me when you came to know me better. And I didn’t want that. ‘coz you’re all that I’ve ever had. My love, my life, my Vaasu! You’ve given me everything – and I don’t want to lose it all. Don’t want to lose you by coming so close to you. ‘coz I lose everyone I come close to. I don’t have it in me to love. And to love you, my love, with a love that’s so unworthy of you!

I’ll never be happy with anyone else.

It was 8 o’clock and she was all in tears when he came to her room. Damn! She didn’t like it when she looked weak. That made him look so much more stronger.

“I’m ok. It’s just the headache. I’d have come to congratulate you myself otherwise.

Congratulations, Vaasu!” she blurted it all in a breath to hide the emotions in her voice, as if.

“Shikha, meri Shikkha… you think you could lie to me?”

That hug was enough to get her going all over again. She cried till she had no tears left in her. Eyes red, when she looked over at him – he was smiling. See the guts! That's why I hate him. That's why I love him.

“Poore 17 minute, 23 seconds ho gaye.” He said, still smiling. “…aur, jaanti ho Shikkha, I’m not getting married.”

Eyes wide, she tried to be strong, “Don’t be silly Vaasu, Sharmishtha is a nice girl. And you love her. I told you, I’ll be ok. It’s just that I was not … prepared.”

He looked ready to laugh. “Oye, paagal! She’s just a friend. Aur tubelight, kab tumhe akl aayegi? Today’s 1st April. And I won the bet this time.”

“You!!!!”

“Ab kaho, what do I get?”

“Thenga! Bolo kya chahiye?”

“Marry me.” He was all business. It couldn’t have come out easier, or smoother.

She smiled, and said “Shaadi, aur tumse – kabhie nahin! Know what, I’m just not the wife-material. And definitely not for you. You deserve something better. A medico, maybe. How about Shar-mish-Tha?…………….”

And they loved happily ever after.