The Love Game: Episode 3

“Mum, what should I wear to the airport?” Jahnvi yelled from her room, cupboard open and swinging her outfits from her wardrobe in a mad frenzy like she had absolutely zilch suitable for her big moment today! Her mum entered the room and resigned on her armchair near her bed post. “Jahnvi, really I don’t know what to tell you. Everything is happening so fast, I can barely focus on any one area of your life. Until last month, you were engaged to be married. Now you’re on your way to receive your platonic boyfriend at the landing.”

Jahnvi slowed down at the thought of Sahil. She felt a pinch of hurt but she blatantly refused to accept she hurt his feelings. They were still friends, but she knew she had lost a good match. But,  but, but, today she was going to finally meet Prantik after almost two years and she wouldn’t allow anything to get her down. “Mum so skater dress with keds or a long skirt and a long shirt with a leather belt and boots? It’s still winter so boots are safe. What do you think?” “Jahnvi you do two things very well. That too without falling in trouble. I have to give that to you. First you write like it’s nobody’s business and secondly you put all your head into turning clothes into outfits for every single occasion. My dear you’re talented. You’ll put something on, don’t worry.”

Jahnvi chose the skater dress and keds. Dressed up and booked a cab to the airport. It was 2:15pm and Prantik’s flight would land in an hour. She kissed her mum goodbye and fled the house in full spirits. She turned back just once more to steal a look at herself in the living room mirror. “Perfect. Not too dressed but dressed to turn heads back. She ran her hand through her wavy hair and bounced happily towards the cab.

He smiled a smile Jahnvi will probably cherish for the rest of her life. Prantik spotted her immediately as he got out of the airport. He was still smiling a boyish smile when he stood right in front of her. She looked at him for a long moment thinking how lucky she was! Jahnvi smiled and then he took her hand and they sprinted off the airport. In the cab none spoke. Don’t know there was this feeling of knowing each other for so long yet not knowing each other at all. The game was on WhatsApp. It was a silent game. She feared this was going to be awkward. Just then the cab screeched to an abrupt halt. They both said aloud, “Kya hua bhaiya?” Was this a sign? Jahnvi refused to let any negative thought about them two enter her mind.

She dropped him home and was a little disappointed they hadn’t spoken easily. She returned home. It was almost 7pm and it was a Saturday so she thought she’d curl up the evening and read some. She was about to settle with a book on her bed when Prantik messaged her. “10 minutes. Be ready. I am picking you up. We have to be at a place right now.” A broad smile appeared on her face and she threw back the covers and got dressed in a white lucknowi kurta and palazzos.

Standing so close to him on his terrace, so aware of their proximity, she didn’t even realize how chilly it was. He smiled that smiled again. She swore to avoid looking at him directly for the rest of the evening. Just then he suddenly held her hand and looking far into the sea beyond the horizon he popped a question out of thin air. “Caramel custard or gulab jamun?” She laughed despite herself. Here she was finally alone with him for the first time since they met two years ago and she had to make a choice between her favorite desserts! “Caramel custard with extra burnt sugar crust.” He turned side ways, still holding her hand, he giggled. She looked up and asked him, “The Trident bar or the desi Gokul bar?” he laughed then and said, “Jahnvi why do I have a feeling we’re going to spend a lot of time at Gokul drinking rum and eating chicken lollipops?” She laughed too and said she always wanted to experience desi bars and cheap booze then run right out at Marine Drive and experience the phenomenon called life! High and upwards, sitting at the parapet, weaving dreams of a better tomorrow.

At that he picked her up and flew right through the staircase and parceled her in his car. They drove to a nearby liquor shop, picked up booze and Thumbsup and sat at Marine Drive sipping on God’s blessing to man so divine! She suddenly realized they were so spontaneous. That didn’t happen with Sahil. “Baby why did you turn into a doll from a barbie?” He asked out of nowhere. Should she be embarrassed?  “I was engaged until last month, remember?” She said with spite. “Women put on weight during their engagement period. You wouldn’t know.” She looked at him satisfactorily. “Lol, no they don’t jaan.” He said with all the admiration he had for her. “Yes they do. You don’t know anything. By the way, are you suggesting I am fat, Prantik?” She asked indignantly. “Lol, yea. We both better hit some dance class or a gym. I am going to get all the engagement fat out of you in no time.” Then he cupped her face and said, “You’re my snowman baby. Fat or not I love you.” She shied away happily and they both rested on each other’s shoulders, drunk and busy looking at the stars above them.

 

She returned home all smiling. She was happy about one thing- This guy did not mix his words. She had put on little weight. It was true. And he just said it so casually that she laughed thinking how angry he made her but loved at the same time. But wait – Would Sahil have called her fat? She didn’t know and now she would never know. She lounged around her room for some time and then was about to sleep when Prantik met her online. They didn’t talk. They went offline at the same time. It was a goodnight people.

The next morning, all energetic to kickstart work, she sat at her favorite place in the house - At her writing desk in her room. She didn’t know why but she kept smiling. Her editor called just then and told her to continue the “How, why, where in Europe series.” She wondered what to write next in the series. Then she simply wrote on her word doc. “Ten ways to know your significant other on a road trip.” Satisfied with a clear vision for this piece she began writing. At 2pm she went online. Just as she was about to go on Prantik’s profile, Sahil messaged her!

“My friends miss you. They say you were a catch. Anyway, free for a quick lunch at Subway?” Jahnvi didn’t know how to react. Then she thought – One guy was always so nice to her and the other called her fat on their first official date. She replied she was busy with a piece and couldn’t really make it today. “That’s okay. I knew the chances were thin. See you around woman.” She felt guilty. She didn’t know why but something was gnawing at her. She couldn’t put her finger on it but she knew something was amiss.

 

 

 

The Love Game Continues...

 

Run, run, run; Run the WhatsApp clock

Miss him as you must

But how can you help what’s done?

Okay one last time and then I won’t

She mocked herself all night long

After 1 year 3 months

Month – November

Day – Sunday

Time – 2 am

She undressed and put on her favorite T-shirt and old pyjamas. It had been a pleasant evening with Sahil at the mall. Okay wait – Didn’t all the boring couples land in the mall on a Sunday evening to shop unnecessarily like middle aged couples because shopping and eating were the only things to do? “Jahnvi!” She swore herself a silent little curse. Why wasn’t she excited? Like everything was perfect. Sahil was perfect. And there was this quiet harmony between them. But she berated her soul as she felt a spark missing between them. That spark was well, it, she felt it with Prantik. That excitement, that adrenaline rush, that risk of being online at the same time!

It was 2 am and she better go to bed. Just then her phone buzzed and it was Sahil wishing her goodnight. She smiled and replied a goodnight to him. Then the devil in her woke up from her resting coffin somewhere between the bridge and the water to make it hell for her. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the moment Jahnvi put her future and very stable partner at stake. She went on Prantik’s profile. She felt that he wouldn’t be online since they’d stopped playing that game about a year ago now. She got engaged and he moved countries. She heard her friend mention something about him working as a manager in Arizona. Despite all these hard facts, she went on his profile and boom! He was there!! She swears her heart leaped out of her mouth! She went offline instantly. Then went back online and he was there!!!!

She put her phone to her chest and almost collapsed on the headboard of her bed. “Jahnvi you have a nose for trouble and you’ll see your life will be a constant adventure because of that!” She remembered her sister cautioning her once after school when they were both broke and Jahnvi challenged her sister she would manage a lays packet from John uncle in the canteen. She did. She just told John uncle he was a great caretaker and that her mum would visit him soon to gift him some cash for taking care of them. She giggled remembering her sister busy munching the chips, kept asking how she got them a pack without money!

She went online again and this time Sahil messaged her the moment she was about to visit Prantik’s profile again. She controlled her excitement somehow and told Sahil she was sleepy and would talk to him in the morning. She didn’t check Prantik’s profile after that. But he played on her mind after that, all the bloody time!

The next morning, she woke up to Sahil’s message that he would pick her up in the evening for dinner at his friend’s new restaurant by the bay. She wanted to half decline the offer. She wanted to talk to her friend in the evening about Prantik. But she reluctantly gave in and typed okay to avoid any sort of questioning “why” from Sahil. The rest of the day sped by and she busied herself deep in her work. She was writing a short series on “Why, where and how in Europe”, since the past month and it had acquired quite a readership online so her editor turned her articles into a short series of timeless tales in the west.

At about 6 pm in the evening she went online, ignoring all the warning signs on why she shouldn’t, she braved one eye on Prantik’s profile. He was online. She went offline. He went offline too. She went online and he came back on too! Now what the hell was happening, after so long? Wasn’t he unsure about her a year ago? Didn’t he just stand by and watch her get engaged to another guy? No! She decided he was just bored in the urban desert of the whites. This wasn’t possible. But day and night difference Jahnvi. Her heart nudged her to rethink her determination to ignore what her soul knew. He was still playing the game.

She was just about to ponder over him for a moment longer when her mum reminded her she had to dress up since Sahil would be at home in 15 minutes to pick her up for their date. She quickly put on slacks and a black light wool sweater to beat the fragile chill in the air later at night. At exactly 6:30pm Sahil picked her up. Here it was – the stark difference between Sahil and Prantik. Sahil never made her wait and Prantik well, he didn’t care for time. Her head screamed Sahil was the one but her heart skipped a beat at the thought of Prantik. First world dilemma of a woman engaged to be married in a month!

The evening was nice. Sahil’s friends were sweethearts. All chilled out and sorted with wives or girlfriends. Nobody fishing for someone new, just work and party on their minds to get them through the road of life. She realized she was blessed to enjoy this stability in her life. But why was she then dying to go online in the middle of the Jenga game? Suddenly, she didn’t feel so good and she thought she caught that little chill in the air. She requested Sahil to drop her home. He knew at once something was playing on her mind but he didn’t ask her what. He just drove her home.

She propped herself on her bed and with urgency like a doctor for a nurse in an operating room, she went on Prantik’s profile. He wasn’t there. Good, she thought. This isn’t real. She was about to go offline when he came online. She just laughed despite the situation they were in. She laughed because he made her happy. She went off to sleep peacefully, soon after that. She woke up with guess who’s message in the morning? Prantik!!

“Hey, just wanted to say that this game is fun and like that we’re always connected in our own little dream world.” She stopped breathing. The room started spinning. She jumped on the bed and her parents entered the room! She pushed past them. She ran to her friend’s place in her pyjamas who lived in the next lane. Sim smiled a knowing smile and let her in. She didn’t wait for her to say anything. She declared, “Prantik’s in love with you and wants to see you!” Jahnvi thought she’d faint. She steadied herself and simply uttered one word with great strength, “How?” Sim told her everything.

She told her that Prantik had been asking about her a lot after she got engaged. He even moved countries just so he could get away from her but it didn’t work. He had told her he would message her only if she’d just come online once more. She had that night at 2 am and he was determined to get her back. Jahnvi felt herself losing control. She told her friend she needed sometime to herself and returned home.

This was the biggest challenge in her life – Choosing between adventurous love and stable love. A love that took time to come to her or the love that never left her. She didn’t work that day. She didn’t eat either and bravely ignored calls from her editor when she was busy trying to make a choice between the two playing innie minnie miny moe! WTF!!! What would she do? She silently prayed to God to help her make the right choice and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Sahil came home. She tried her best to act normal but she knew she couldn’t hide it anymore. She took him to her room and confided everything to him. She expected him to storm off in anger but he just smiled. He held her hand and said, “Who sends jitters through your heart?” She closed her eyes and God!!! WTF!!! Both of them came together in her mind! “Too spoilt for choice huh?” Sahil lightened the moment and left.

She re-examined the situation. She was engaged. Her wedding cards were distributed to friends and relatives to be married in December this year. Her parents knew something was up. Prantik had come back in her life and Sahil had easily made her laugh and left when she confided in him.

She shut her bedroom door. Sat in the middle of the bed, facing the sun she meditated for a few minutes and then thought of true love. That instant she had the most important clarity in her life. She would marry Prantik. He brought excitement in her life. He was the one for her. If there was a risk in life to be taken, she was putting her money on this idiot whatsapp boyfriend of hers!!

 

 

LOVE, ROSIE

“Sometimes, true love is sitting right under your nose & you don’t see it.”- Rosie to Alex

Source: tbn2.gstatic.com

Sometimes, the right love comes at the wrong time. Love, Rosie is inspired from Scottish author, Cecelia Ahern’s bestselling novel, ‘Where Rainbows End.’

Rating: 3.5 /5

It’s the ultimate love story filled with comedy of errors

Preview:

Alex Stewart (Sam Cliffman) and Rosie Dunne (Lily Collins) have been best friends since they were 5. So they can’t be right for each other as lovers, can they? Even then: On their prom night, Rosie sleeps with Greg from jealousy that Alex is with Bethany. Foolish Greg breaks his virginity with Rosie, getting the condom stuck in her vagina! He passes off; Alex gets Rosie in the hospital and later drops her home… 

Source:Google

When it comes to love, making the right choices in life and being simply peaceful- These two are their worst enemies. They just can't get themselves together.

Will they risk their friendship to let love in?

Rosie Dunne:

Rosie is cute- *digging high school rival, Bethany the supermodel’s magazine cover in the waste basket*. Nonsensical -*Drives Katie to school, her hand still tied to the now broken, bed stand from last night’s pleasure call with cop, just to make it in time for Katie’s class!* 

Source:tumblr

And adorable *Stops planning about life after she accidentally gets pregnant after prom* *Gets job as cleaner in a hotel, lives in an apartment happily with Katie and plays by the beach everyday*.

Alex:

Hot, successful and every woman’s dream come true. Alex is always trying to cover up a void in his heart due to Rosie’s absence in his life.Sometimes living in with a crazy narcissist Sally or then superficial Bethany. However, for Alex, it’s always Rosie first. Since childhood till they grow old. Alex is always the one to take a back seat emotionally for Rosie’s happiness. 

Source:Andpop.com

When it comes to Rosie, no matter how successful he gets, her embarrassing decisions in life never bother him. He just helplessly gives into Rosie’s mistakes all the time. To cover hers, he makes more.

Love story

Alex and Rosie tell us real love is feeding into each other’s ego quite comfortably. They mess up their lives - one in a professional space and the other in the personal space.Until one day the time, distance and events that conspired to keep them apart; melt into nothingness against the power of their undying love for each other. A love story in epistolary endeavour: Of being together always through sms’s, emails, phone calls & being there for each other always-but yet not being with each other completely.

Source:Google

Love, Rosie; tells you that true love sets you free. You come together, if you are meant to be.

Source:tumblr

A touching love tale, of two twisted lovers, who challenge destiny time and again to keep them apart. But love finds its way into their hearts each time, killing their love struck and sacrificing ego for each other. It’s actually their way of growing in love together.

Source:Pinterest

So destiny chooses that it be by them staying apart. Understanding and accepting each other at each stage of their lives, but apart from each other; strengthening their love for one another by overcoming challenges that life throws at them; over weekends with spontaneous meetings. Staying away from each other unconsciously, makes them fall so deeply in love that one day they Alex finds her in his arms in the living room of Rosie’s dream Hotel on the mountain top by the Rivera.

Source:Pinterest

It’s a beautiful love story, after Notebook, that shows the love story unfold over time. It makes your heart pulse faster for the one that would be your hell and heaven together!

Spoilers you cannot miss! 

Hilarious sex scene in the beginning of the movie:

Source: tumblr

Alex’s undying patience with Rosie’s nonsense: *Rosie hiding her pregnancy from Alex.* How Alex nods his head, smiles and says, “I will be Katie’s Godfather.” Rosie then sits back comfortably, forgets everything and talks about baby poop smell order with Alex rather than her dreams about college.

Source:Andpop.com

PS: Fight it as you may, love always finds its way.

Lover girl,

Maya