Chapter 1
15 Nov 2018,
Malad East,
Mumbai - 097
Love and friendship are the secret ingredients to make any
story great. So first, let's start with friendship.
Malar and Sagar.
This story wouldn't have begun if they were not born in the
same building, Ganesh Bhuvan Housing Society, precisely 24
years ago. Malar was born first, in 1994 in the A-wing of the
building, and two years later, in 1996, Sagar was born in the B
wing of the building.
Now, 24 years later, Malar and Sagar are friends, and the best
thing about their relationship is that they are genuine with each
other. There is no contradiction or confusion between them.
They both exactly know what they mean to each other, and
never try to change each other when they are together on their
building terrace.
The building terrace plays the hero to Malar and Sagar, and it
is the hero of our story too. That day they are supposed to meet
there.
It was 6 p.m.
Sagar received Malar's text.
"How much time will you take? I am already upstairs?"
Sagar read the message but didn't reply. Instead, he got out of
his house and reached the terrace in the next 129 seconds.
Malar stood in the corner and looked down at how rickshaws,
bikes, cars, buses, and humans were just running.
"I don't want to run anymore in life."
Sagar just went and stood next to her. They both didn't speak
anything for the next few minutes. They just let their eyes do
the talking.
15 minutes passed, and for the first time in the history of their
friendship, awkwardness took space between them. Without
saying a word, they went and sat next to each other on the
water tank of their terrace. From there, they could only see the
sun going down.
Malar knew she had to start the conversation that day. The
sun had set; the sky had turned a mix of orange and blue. Birds
were returning to their trees, and amidst this, Malar asked,
"What was her answer..?"
Sagar was waiting for her to ask that question. He looked at
her and said, "She said she didn't expect such a thing from me.
She saw me just as a friend, and nothing could ever happen
between us. She also requested me to end all this; otherwise,
she would tell everything to Rupali didi."
Malar expected such a reply because it was apparent. She
said, "I told you. It was way too early to send her such a love
letter".
Sagar got furious and in a loud voice explained, "See Malar,
Nothing can be done now, the letter has already been sent, and
she has replied to it. So please don't tell me whether it is too
early or too late."
Malar raised her voice now, "If you think that way then forget
about her and move on. You can't force someone to love you.
Got it?"
"Malar, it's effortless for you to say all this because you have
Nimit who loved you every day for the past seven years. But
with me it's different. I had been searching for the girl I loved in
college. It took me five years to move on from her and fall in
love with Devaki, but even she rejected me plainly."
"Sagar, what happened in college with your girlfriend was
beyond your control. In fact, you can't control whether Devaki
will accept your love or not, such things are not in our control."
Sagar couldn't argue further because what Malar said was 100
percent right. They both became silent again.
Malar also needed to accept what she said a few minutes ago.
She needed to practice what she preached, "We can't control
such things." She knew she couldn't control what was
happening in her life for the past one year.
She took a deep breath and broke the news to Sagar.
"I broke up with Nimit last month."
By now, the sky was completely black, and it was dark all
around. But somewhere in the corner between the clouds, the
moon in its most excellent form, smiled, looking at Sagar and
Malar.