She wanted it that way – 5

She wanted it that way – 4
She wanted it that way – 3
She wanted it that way – 2
She wanted it that way – 1

Continued…

Vishaal wandered around the society hoping that somewhere he would come across her. But she was not seen anywhere. He walked back home and entered his room closing the door behind him before anyone could see him and ask him the reason for returning early. He knew that once inside the room no one would bother him. He picked up the packet of cigarette from the waste paper basket and put it back in his jeans pocket. He stayed back in his room for rest of the day. His folks, including Vidya knew it was best not to disturb him when he locked himself in the room.
At night, he quietly sneaked out of the house and walked to the girls’ building hoping to see her in the balcony but the door to the balcony was closed. He waited there for some time and then returned home. He quietly entered the house and walked to his room but failed to see that the table lamp in Vidyas room was glowing. After some time Vidya switched off the lamp and slept.

For the next few days Vishaal did not see her anywhere. Not even at her balcony and he started getting worried. He had tried his best to quit smoking, but in vain. The person for whom he had attempted doing that was not seen anywhere. Also, his restlessness prevented him from not smoking for long.
One day when he was standing at his regular hangout with his friends, he pulled out the cigarette packet from his pocket and placed one cigarette on his lips. He had just lit the cigarette when he saw the girl walking towards him. He immediately threw the cigarette on the road and extinguished it. Though Vishaal reacted spontaneously the girl had seen him do that because she had been watching him as she took the turn to the road at the end of which Vishaal was patiently waiting for her. When she walked past Vishaal thought he had seen her smile.
But before he could think anything further on these lines he heard a familiar voice calling, “Vishaal da…” He spotted Vidya standing across the street. He crossed the road and walked to her
“Da, can you please come with me. Mamma wants me to buy some groceries”
“So! What I have got to do anything about it? I have never come with you before”
“Da, actually there’s a guy who teases me when I go there”
“Come lets go”
If anything could make Vishaal go buying groceries, it was his possessiveness for his sister and Vidya knew it too well.
“Da, I wanted to talk to you. There is no guy harassing me”
“I know. I know you better than this. You would have not told me if there was some guy. So what is it that you want to talk to me about?”
“Da, I heard papa talk to someone on the phone. He was talking something on the lines of your marriage saying that if you get married then may be you would become responsible” Vidya said stepping into the stores
But Vishaal was not listening as his eyes were fixed on someone and his mind was somewhere else. “Da are you listening?” saying so Vidya looked at Vishaal and then followed his gaze.
“Da! Is this the girl?” Vidya asked enthusiastically.
“Yes.” said Vishaal without moving his eyes from the girl. As if knowing that she is the topic of discussion she looked towards them. Immediately Vishaal looked away and holding Vidyas’ arm made her walk deeper into the stores.
“Da! I know this girl” “What?” everyone turned their heads towards Vishaal because in his excitement he had been a little loud.
Feeling awkward, both of them finished their work in the stores and hurried out. As both of them were at a safe distance i.e. away from the girl Vishaal asked, “How do you know her?”
“I mean I do not know her personally, but she is my friend Janhavis’ new neighbor”
“Oh” that is all Vishaal could say.
But in her mind Vidya had already started playing her cards because she knew she had to do this for her Da. She had made up her mind when she had seen him return home dejected. At that time she did not have any idea how she could help him, but now … she knew.”

… Part six

Arti D. Honrao