The Love Game: Season 2 - Episode 1

 

After a week

Oh hey stalker!

Jahn...

It's Jahnvi and what are you doing here this late at night?

Jahnvi was covering a book launch at Crossword at Kemps corner. Throughout the evening, she had a vague sense of someone following her from home to the book store and then she knew! It was Prantik!

Since 6 pm to now 10 pm she was busy covering a unique bouquet of poetries by a friend's mother. Aunty was a home writer like her and her friend; Jahl had sent her a copy of his mum's book about a week ago. The book had entitled her to literate maturity through words that flowed like beautiful waves on a soft pier of barricades called life. She had to publish her in her next story in City Times. At 68 years, aunty's writing wooed her to a promise of her fans' loyalty.

That moment when she turned around brusquely, she saw him trying to hide but she caught him in action.

She just smiled at him and continued her coverage of Mrs. Mehrooni Javed's poetry recitation. Prantik knew when Jahn smiled that this wasn’t going to be easy. At about 11 pm, after praising aunty's cherubic rhyming in her stories about life ethics and culture through poems, Jahnvi took her leave and left the store.

She thought she'd just hail a cab but she wanted to walk it off. Her home was about 4 miles from the store and the fearless breeze of Marine Drive tempted her to walk it home.

All this time she was very well aware of the fact that Prantik was following her. Finally, after an hour and reaching Intercontinental she approached him.

I am just… Jahn I have come back for good. No more urban desert of the whites for me.

It's Jahnvi and that's great man, if that's what you want to do. But how do you plan to establish your career in India at 31? Won't you have to start over?

Prantik was shocked with his woman's indifference. She sounded so unattached that she was asking him about his career practicality instead of running into his arms. What had he done? He had to make a decision that split second. If he wanted her back, he'd just play along and act like she was acting with him.

I think I’ll start over Ms. Saini. India has a lot of growth opportunities for an engineer like me. I'll get by. Already applied to a few places that dad suggested. By the way, have been here about a week or so and I found out you were going to be out covering a story so I just came by to say hello.

Jahnvi should have been thinking why Prantik would do what he did to her and run into his arms for all the broken time between them but she was over it and over him. She was actually indifferent. She didn't want to rant into a long one with him at this hour or ever so she decided to keep this conversation short.

So nice of you, Mr. Saxena. But you didn't really have to stalk me to say hello. You could have just passed the message through Sim, no?

Prantik didn't think he could stand her indifference and complete natural lack of interest in him. Somehow he managed to hide his shock and continued to calmly work around this meaningless exchange between them.

I could have but you know me and surprises Ms. Saini.

You mean you and shocks. It's okay Mr. Saxena, you're not one to self deprecate. So surprises yes. Anyway you said hello. I am now completely aware you're in India. It’s so nice to meet you after two years. It's getting late and I must move on. Goodnight.

The "Move on" pun stung like a bee to Prantik but he wouldn't show it to Jahn. She had all the rights to be this upset. He'd win her back. The thought didn't give him any self confidence. Somehow, that minute he knew he had lost her for good. But he loved her more than his life and he promised himself he would win her back. Somehow he would. He didn't know how yet, but he would.

Okay goodnight Ms. Saini, it was good seeing you after so long. All grown up and adulting like a pro.

Jahnvi smiled. She didn't know how she was so calm around him but then she thought about her nervous breakdown that morning at Sim's house after his disappearance and a whole new Jahnvi took over her.

So long man. Ciao.

She turned and continued enjoying the breeze at Marine Drive and thought she'd stop at pizzeria for a quick bite before taking a cab from Churchgate.

She put on her headphones and didn't turn around or she would have seen Prantik in tears. She thought if love could make someone it could break someone too. In her case, she was reborn. She reached the pizza place, ordered a Bombay Masala, took the parcel and got into a cab to reach home.

It was a good book launch. She'd call Jahl and tell him his mum would be featured in City Times the next day.

Prantik just sat at the parapet. He was numb with pain. Damnit! He wanted her to be emotionally independent but he didn't know things would turn out so bad. He wanted her to be independent in a worldly manner not spiritually! Not spiritually unattached from him! God knew he didn't want that for Jahn and him. Helpless, he walked aimlessly on the roads into the night and landed at Sim's at 6 am. He rang the bell. Sim answered after like 15 minutes.

Hi Prantik. Good morning. You look awful!

Can I sit?

Ya, sure, please.

I'm fucked Sim.

I kinda know that.

What do I do? I have lost her.

How was it last night?

Shocking.

Tell me more while I make us some good coffee to cheer you up.

Ya thanks. I'll need that in liters. I met her last night. She has changed Sim. Completely changed. No longer shy, no longer that smile that used to melt my heart. She was so indifferent, I could barely make through the conversation.

See dude, Sim said as she placed the coffee mug in his trembling hands. I think you should tell her the truth. Tell her why you had to leave without warning two years ago. She'll understand. Jahn's a darling that way.

What do I tell her? Should I tell her that what I did was because I was afraid to completely love her? Should I tell her that she was so pure and innocent that it scared me? Should I tell her that I left because I wanted her to become an independent lady who knew how to deal with life even without me?

Yes Prantik, tell her that.

It's too late Sim. She has matured in a very rigid manner. Like passive aggressive. She comes across so strong, I thank God I wasn't tongue tied in front of her last night.

Okay dude, win her back.

That's why I am here. Let's plan something.

Prantik you and your love games man, seriously!

Sim, this time it’s to win her back forever.

Okay so here's what we will do Prantik.