A Crazy affair - Serial Fiction

Serial Fiction is back- After a long time.

Rishi and Anuj are best buds. Kim makes the bond stronger by making things brighter in their lives... Pleasant incidences from the lives of Kim, Rishi and Anuj...

Chapter 1. Champ-ag(ai)n-e

Chapter 2. Dreams

Chapter 3: Emergence of Events

Chapter 4: Fun Employed

Chapter 5: Golden Dusk

Chapter 6 : Heart to Heart

Chapter 7: Inferences

Chapter 8: J for Joy

8. J for Joy

Before you read further :

Chapter 1: Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2: Dreams
Chapter 3: Emergence of Events
Chapter 4: Fun-Employed
Chapter 5: Golden Dusk
Chapter 6: Heart to Heart
Chapter 7: Inferences

***
"... and he realised he was in love. But it was too late. He decided to set her free. He was sure that she wouldn't come back. He felt the pain, leading to a sublte pleasure. He stood facing the sea and allowed the wind to play with his hair. He took a stick lying near his foot and wrote on the sand "G I T I K A". He waited until the waves lashed the shore and wiped away her name. He smiled.

He turned back and saw Anuj- His best friend. This was the umpteenth time he had let gone a girl, not for another one, but for the sake of love.

He stood testimony to the one of the best love stories ever."

Kim finished reading the synopsis of her book. The audience was glued for 40 minutes. Some eyes were filled with tears, some faces smiled. They all ran into a thunderous applause after Kim rose from her chair.

The host announced "Letting go” -by  Kim Fernandes. Book on sale from 23rd January 2011. Pick up your copies for Rs. 359. Available at Crosswords".

Kim stood in ecstasy. She couldn't believe that she had published a book. Her dream had come true.
She got busy shaking hands with all the people who had come for the reading. She took out some time and spoke to Anusha Roy, who appreciated her for her young and fresh style of writing.

She had always idolized Anusha.

She looked around -with pride and glee.

All of a sudden she felt something cold, chilly, on her bare arms.

"Ouch", she reacted, and turned back.

"ANUJ.....", she hugged him. After a long hug she began "and what WAS that?", she asked.
Anuj showed her a bottle.

"ppaparapaparapajoujoujou", Rishi emerged.

"You guys!!!", Kim was speechless.

"Now before this champagne gets hot and your demand gets hotter, lets escape", said Anuj

"Ma'am, can I pick up one book.", asked Rishi.

"Ofcourse!!", Kim was still struggling for words.

"For my driver. I promised him", said Rishi.

Kim hit him hard. She was living a dream within a dream.

"Let's go", Anuj reinstated.

The three of them went to their usual hangout. It was an old historical structure in the outskirts on Mumbai.

"I did not like the ending of your novel. Bull shit it was", said Rishi, "You get all credits for your literary skills and I don't even get a girl!" Rishi ended.

"You get me!!", said Kim naughtily.

"I don't want you!! I want that Gitika female. Oh wait! I have to read your novel to find out how much babe factor she's got", mocked Rishi.

"When did y'all come?", asked Kim, looking at Anuj, ignoring Rishi's talks.

"Yesterday!", replied Anuj looking at Kim.

"And our dreams have come true, sweetheart. We just wanted you to finally make it to the stage and then voila...!", said Rishi in a very appreciative tone.

"The champagne now, for the Champ-again", said Rishi.

"Yeah! Finally", said Kim.

"Fourth time for you guys. No?", asked Anuj.

Kim and Rishi looked at each other and laughed.

"We are not betrayers. We are not deceivers. We are friends, friends for ever!!", Rishi sang.
"That doesn't even rhyme, Rishi", said Kim.

"So, y'all stuck to the deal, huh?", Anuj smiled and his face shone.

"Deal it was, deal it is, deal it would have always been, dude", said Rishi.

"So, let’s open it! To the three best people on planet Earth", said Anuj

"Cheers!!", Kim rejoiced.

"Cheers!", said Anuj.

"Kim, you should start working on your next book", said Rishi as he sipped champagne, “Exquisite, Anuj”, he complimented the drink.

"Yeah and....?", asked Kim as she sipped champagne.

"Let me write about myself. I want to be a tennis player in your next novel.... or how about making me a poilitician?", asked Rishi...

...and the crazy talks went on and on. Anuj as usual sat staring at the vast sky thanking God for

everything he had, a wonderful, life, friends, career and a dream which had come true.

"...and I get to choose my girl too.....", Rishi wondered if Kim got his point.

THE END

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

7.Inferences

Before you read further :

Chapter 1: Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2: Dreams
Chapter 3: Emergence of Events
Chapter 4: Fun-Employed
Chapter 5: Golden Dusk
Chapter 6: Heart to Heart
***

The month of January had dawned. The New Year was more pleasant than the previous one. Dreams were coming true. Reality seemed to be replaced by dreams. Kim, Rishi and Anuj were happy. Very happy.
But there was an iota of sadness that still persisted.
The three were separated by time and distance. The only thing that brought them together was gtalk.

As decided, they all came online to chat. Anuj was the first to get online.

Anuj: Ping. Guys, you there?
Kim: Yep
Anuj: wassup?
Kim: I am very sleepy already. It's 1 am here.
Anuj: It's a weekend. Stay up and talk. Don't give reasons.
Kim: Do I have a choice? ;)

Rishi: Yo Uncle Sam, Yo Kim...how are you doing?
Kim: Good. Can u learn to be on time? Ever?
Rishi: What time? I am on time. Some random time.
Anuj: So Kim. How do you feel? Have you done justice to us?
Kim: Feels good. Justice or no justice, that you have read and tell.
Rishi: I want one autographed copy of your book. Ok?
Kim: Wow. Thanks Rishi. You will get the first copy, and that too signed by me.
Rishi: It's not for me btw. It's for my driver, here at Melbourne.
Anuj : Lol...:D :D
Kim: Damn you!

Anuj: How many pages did you finally print?
Kim: 348. Including acknowledgements and all those things, you know.
Rishi: So do you talk about us anywhere?
Kim: No!!

Anuj: Arre don't make her mad, Rishi.
Rishi: Ok. So, when is the release?
Kim: 23rd January. I'd told you? Hadn't I?
Rishi: Sorry! I keep forgetting.
Anuj: So who is the chief guest?
Kim: I am still trying to get Anusha Roy. Wonder if she'll make it.

Rishi: Hmm...had I been there, I would have done the honours.
Kim: I wouldn't have let you.
Rishi: So,Anuj, any plans for India?
Anuj: No man. Sometime later this year, probably.

Kim understood that she would have no one on the most important day of her life. Rishi realised that Anuj was too involved in his job to take time out for Kim. Anuj thought why couldn't Rishi attend Kim's book release.

The thought process in the three minds, at three different locations were different, but the feeling that arose out of the thought process was the same - that of pain.

They were too good a set of friends to not feel the hurt. Anuj kept thinking about the champagne deal.

Rishi cluelessly browsed some websites. Kim, fell asleep while chatting.

The status on gtalk, for all three of them, showed 'available'. But they actually weren't.

to be contd

Onto Chapter 8: J for Joy


Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

6. Heart to Heart

Before you read further

Chapter 1: Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2: Dreams
Chapter 3: Emergence of events
Chapter 4: Fun-Employed
Chapter 5: Golden Dusk

***
(Flashback)

"What are you doing, Kim?", asked Rishi

"Writing", replied Kim ignoring Rishi's curiosity.

"What?", asked Anuj, deeply concentrating on his laptop, but merely asking as a formality.

"Nothing", replied Kim, ignoring everything else around her.

"Rishi created a superficial aura which...which...which...what? What have you written, Kim", asked Rishi peeping into Kim's notebook and reading out loud.

"Rishi created a superficial aura which attracted the bodies of the universe in a small sphere inside the chamber", read out Kim.

"Bull shit. I give you the liberty to use my name, doesn't mean you make this poor Rishi do anything.", cried out Rishi.

"And that doesn't even make sense, Kim. What have you written?", asked Anuj.

"That's none of your business, I'll pay you all the royalty you want for using your names, once my book sells", said Kim.

"Are you writing a Sci-Fi?", asked Rishi.

"No", replied Kim.

"Make me a romantic lead or a sportsman, or atleast a bartender", said Rishi.

Kim and Anuj laughed.

"This is not a part of my novel", said Kim.

"Then?", asked Rishi.

"I am just playing with ideas", replied Kim.

"You are playing with my name, my identity, my...everything", replied Rishi animatedly.

Kim and Anuj looked at each other helplessly and laughed.

"When will you finish playing with your ideas and come up with your novel?", asked Anuj.

"Boy! Writing a novel is like living a dream. Not that easy", said Kim as a matter- of- fact-ly.

Kim sat staring at her diary, recollecting the exact moment when she would release her book.

"Then love your dream and live your dream", Anuj interrupted.

"Seriously. Make Rishi anything you want. Astronaut is fine too. But work on your novel", said Rishi, motivating Kim.

"Yes, guys. You are right!", said Kim.

All three sat in silence with varied thoughts in their minds and blank expressions on their faces.

"Coffee?", interrupted Kim.

"No you sit and write. I'll make some, today", said Rishi.

Kim smiled. Anuj signalled him to make it a bit stronger. Rishi went inside the kitchen singing his favorite song. Kim and Anuj loved listening to Rishi.

The chase for dreams was still on.

to be contd...

Onto Chapter 7: Inferences
Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

5. Golden Dusk

Before reading further,

Chapter 1: Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2: Dreams
Chapter 3: Emergence of Events
Chapter 4. Fun-Employed

***

Anuj leaned on the parapet and stared into the horizon. It was winter, but the sun shone pretty bright that day. The setting sun left a mix of beautiful shades of yellow.

He felt a chill as he sipped coffee and remembered all the good times he had with Rishi and Kim when they used to discuss about their dreams. The coffee was different. The memories, weren't.

He wondered, if distances had emerged between him and his friends. He wondered how long would he run for his dream. He was way past the finishing line. He had achieved everything.
He recollected how Rishi always made fun of him.

"Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouet, you fool", Anuj would always say, "Get the name correct, we won't die sipping Draught all our life", he'd make his point.

The champagne deal was very close to Anuj's heart. He wondered, how easily could the other two break it.

He logged on to his gtalk and found Kim online. He pinged her.

Anuj: Hey Kim. Ssup?

Kim: Hi Anuj. All's good yaa. Just a li'l bit of hangover.

Anuj: Yeah! Rishi told me. So what did y'all have?

Kim: I forgot. Didn't Rishi tell you?

Anuj: He did.

Kim: Don't be mad at us. We are really sorry for breaking the deal.

Anuj felt bad. Really bad.

Anuj: It's ok. It was just a champagne. A deal. You guys have made it. You've just returned from Europe, Rishi is minting foreign currencies, dreams have come true.

Kim: Yes. They have.

Anuj tried a hundred times to write a sentence but managed to type just one word.

Anuj: So..

Kim: I gotta go Anuj. ttyl. Bye tc. :)

Anuj wondered what has changed so much ? Did he always care way beyond limits or did he not express enough? Somewhere deep within he believed that the deal remained very important for Kim and Rishi too. But reality was different.

While he was thinking about it all alone, his cellphone beeped. It was Rishi's message.

"Call me." It read.

Anuj dialled the number.

"Yes dude", started Anuj.

"Man, I am leaving for Melbourne next month", said Rishi.

"Awesome. For how long?", asked Anuj.

"6 months", Rishi lied.

"And Kim's...?"asked Anuj.

"Yeah Yeah, I won't be there", Rishi took over Anuj's statement and added.

"We have to do something", said Anuj.

"Why don't you advance your plans of coming to India", asked Rishi.

"I was wondering too. My cousin is getting engaged at the same time, so I think i can make it", said Anuj.

"For Kim, you have to do it dude. It'll be really unfair otherwise", added Rishi.

"Alright, let me check", said Anuj.

"Ok. Text me if you finalize anything", said Rishi and he hung the phone.

Until now, Anuj was only thinking of going to India. Now he had decided.

***

"Kim, you feeling better today?", asked Rishi, heading towards to kitchen to grab some cookies.

"Kinda. I have decided never to booze again", said Kim.

"Wow. Me too.", said Rishi.

Both looked at each other and they laughed.

"I gotta go to Australia next month", said Rishi.

"When?", asked Kim.

"First week", said Rishi.

"Awesome", exclaimed Kim, feeling a bit dejected but sounding overtly excited, " and when do you come back?" she added.

"6 months", Rishi replied munching on the cookies.

"Wow!", replied Kim, wondering whether Rishi had forgotten how important the month would be for her.

"Gotta go", replied Rishi and ran out without talking much, "Bye", he yelled.

Kim slipped into a thought stream, trying to make sense of what Rishi said.

to be contd...

Onto Chapter 6: Heart to Heart

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

4. Fun-Employed

Before you read further, read this -->

Chapter 1: Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2: Dreams
Chapter 3: Emergence of Events

***

(Flashback)

"My MBA gets over next summer. But I am really worried about getting the right job, ya", said Rishi. He never sounded so serious.

"It's so uncertain. Talent goes waste like this, see", said Anuj.

"We ought to do something. If this goes on for another month, I will have to start planning for something else", said Rishi.

"Like what?", Anuj thought, and then continued "Let's open a bar", suggestedAnuj, barging into Rishi's zone of talks.

Rishi smiled momentarily. He became serious again. "You know what you want in life, right?", he added.

"Yes. I have known it enough and for pretty long now", said Anuj, getting serious too.

"So how about employing Kim to play the bar girl?", started Rishi.

"You called out my name?", started Kim, who was busy writing away notes in her notebook.

"Yeah, come here. We got a plan. And we want you to be our business partner", said Rishi.
Anuj laughed.

"Yeah tell me what is it?", asked Kim seriously.

"We plan to open a business and we want you to be the attraction, major face of our brand", said Rishi.

"Ok.", said Kim, realising that it was going to lead to some joke and insensible talk.

"You deal for a partnership?", asked Anuj.

"Yeah. What would I have to do?", asked Kim doubting their intentions.

"Dance", said Rishi.

Anuj and Rishi laughed.

"Yeah... and? anything else?", asked Kim, ignoring the talks heading towards the coffee jar.

"No, we are serious", said Rishi and Anuj in sync.

"Ok, deal then. I really don't mind dancing in your bar", added Kim, replying totally against the expectations of the two guys.

"So let's talk about the investment then?", started Rishi.

"I can only invest 278 cds. I need  songs to dance on, right guys?", asked Kim sarcastically.

"Yeah, right! I can give up my huge collection of Beer mugs", said Rishi.

"And what about the champagne guys? Is this it? Our dreams?", Anuj got serious again, thinking about the deal they had made long ago.

"Dreams are mere dreams, my friend. Reality is what we face..this...this..and this.", said Rishi pointing at the floor, Kim and the coffee jar.

All sat silently, staring into the oblivion. After a brief silence, Kim began "Some more coffee?"

"Yeah!", said Anuj, wondering how much 1$ was in Rupees.

"Me too", said Rishi, staring at his Samsung phone wondering when would it be replaced by a blackberry.

"Gimme 2 minutes", said Kim and disappeared, as she sketched two main characters of her novel.

to be contd..

Onto Chapter 5: Golden Dusk

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

3. Emergence of Events

Before you read further, here are the links to -->


Chapter 1. Champ-ag(ai)n-e
Chapter 2. Dreams

***

"Anuj hung the phone, Kim. He hates me", cried Rishi.

"Hmmm.. So, how drunk are you?", asked Kim.

"As much as you are", said Rishi.

"I am NOT drunk. Stop saying that!", Kim made her point.

"Nor am I, baybeh. As much as you are, I said. NIL", said Rishi.

Both of them laughed. Hard, then harder.

"Go back home now. You are not allowed to stay at my place", said Kim, stumbling upon the couch which came in her way.

Rishi held her and both of them fell down. They resumed laughter and sat on the carpet wondering how topsy turvy the world seemed.

"What was the champagne Anuj said we'd have? Pernoriperrier-Jou Jou jou", he went on with a french accent.

Kim laughed.

"He says all kind of funny names. I will put this name on his epitaph. Jou jou pernoriperriiririripeprprii", Rishi mocked.

"You have already killed him? Don't be mad at him. Poor fellow!", said Kim.

"Yeah. You are right. We instigated him. We deserve a little hang up and a hang over", Rishi giggled at his own joke.

Kim looked clueless.

"I never thought 7 tequilas could do this", said Rishi, "I was a teetotaller, once", he ended with an air.

Kim laughed. After a squeaky pause she began, "Wish we could have champagne. I loved that golden bottle", she said.

"Crazy or what? We should anyhow wait for Anuj to come until we have his parapaparapajoujoujou champagne", Rishi giggled.

"Yeah. So now that you have lied that we had champagne, what would he think?", asked Kim.

"He will fly to India pretty soon", said Rishi.

"Noooh no no no!", Kim sang, "you are over estimating. He won't come to India, but he might throw attitude and act like proud, angry Uncle Sam for a few months", said Kim.

"You want him here, don't you?", asked Rishi.

"I dooo. Our dreams are coming true. This is it.. We are here. Anuj isn't. I do want him here!", cried Kim.

"He will be here!", Rishi said, seriously.

"Before the....(hic)....", started Kim and puked again.

Rishi had sobered by then. He put Kim to sleep and imagined the scene when they would all meet.

Rishi closed the door of Kim's room, locked the main door and took the street towards his home. It was a cool winter night.

He checked his blackberry. He had 3 Emails. He opened the first one.

It read:

Hello Mr.Rishi,

We seek your presence in Melbourne in the first week of January 2011, for 2 months. Kindly confirm your availability.Kind Regards,
HR department.
Rishi smiled. His smile disappeared and reflected a frown immediately as he calculated the date. 23rd January 2011. He saw his calender, "Saturday", he called out, thinking about something.

He walked towards his home, mentally prioritising his life, friends, and work.


to be contd...

Onto Chapter 4: Fun Employed

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

2. Dreams

Before you read further.... read
Chapter 1: --> Champ-ag(ai)n -e

***

(Flashback)

"I remember the days when we used to share our dreams, the silly ones", said Rishi

"Yes. Especially the day when we met after 6 long years! Remember?", said Anuj.

"Ofcourse", added Rishi.

"What were your dreams, guys!", asked Kim.

Both the guys laughed.

"We'll talk about the ones which are not yet fulilled", said Rishi.

"Yes", reaffirmed Anuj.

"Wow. I don't have any dreams. I am happy with what I have", said Kim with a serene smile
which proved that she was at peace no matter what.

"Liar. Say that you don't apply your brains and talk out loud. I am sure you have dreams too.", said Anuj.

"Hmmm... may be! may be not!", said Kim. "So what are your dreams?", she added.

Anuj and Rishi looked at each other. The moon shone bright as they sipped beer. They looked up at the sky.

Anuj breathed heavily and began, "I want to go back to the US. Earn a bit more, and come back and teach the kids here."

Kim smiled.

"And you, Rishi", asked Kim.

"You want to listen to the silly one or the one which makes sense and sounds, you know - grown up types", asked Rishi.

"Tell me all of  'em", said Kim.

"I always wanted to go to Vegas and spend and spend without worrying about how much would be left in my bank account. I wanted to drive a ferrari on...", went on Rishi.

"Rishi, let the silly ones be. Let's talk sense", said Anuj.

"Yeah. Ohk." said Rishi and paused for a moment and then continued, "seriosuly speaking, I always...alllwaaaayyys wanted to date Maria Sharapova."

"Shut up!! Really??", rejoiced Kim, "and this is what you call serious?"

"Useless fellow", Anuj shrugged and sipped beer looking at the vast sky thinking profoundly.

"Anuj is in a different mood. Let's get back to the serious talks", Rishi whispered in Kim's ears.

Kim giggled.

"Now, seriosuly Kim, I want to do an MBA so that with that degree I get to travel overseas to all places possible", replied Rishi.

Kim nodded.

"And you?", asked Rishi tapping Kim's shoulder.

"What? me? I have no dream. I told you!", said Kim.

"There must be something that you always wanted to do or achieve", asked Rishi.

"Hmm... To put it as a dream, I'd say, I wanted to see Greece, France and Italy. I wanted to write about these places in my novel. And the only way possible would be if I visit them and see for myself what they looked like", said Kim.

"Ok Miss writer, so there you are..
You have a dream...
A song to sing...
To help you cope...with anything", Rishi started singing.

Anuj and Kim joined,
"If you see the wonder, of the fairy tale...
 You can take the future, even if you fail...
I believe in angels, 
something good in everything I see...
I believe in angels,
When I know the time is right for me...
I'll cross the stream...
I have a dream...."

"No guys seriously! If ever, in life we were to fulfill our dreams, we would sit just like this and sip beer and celebrate", said Kim.

"Dumb head. If you fulfil your dream you'll be a writer, successful one at that, Anuj will be in States, earning in dollars, and I will fly high in the sky... and you talk about beer", Rishi chided.

"We'll have Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouet", said Anuj.

"What's that now?", asked Kim

"The most exquisite Champagne", said Anuj with an air.

"And until then, we should make a deal, that none of us would have champagne without either of us", added Rishi.

"Deal!", said Kim, wondering whether her dream will ever come true.

"Deal, said Anuj", throwing a high five at Rishi and then Kim.

"Deal, it is then", said Rishi, returning the high five, his eyes almost twinkling.

to be contd..

Onto Chapter 3: Emergence of events

Back to Chapter 1: --> Champ-ag(ai)n -e

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

1. Champ-ag(ai)n-e

"I am a loser! Loser for life", said Rishi while talking on phone with Anuj.

"I know. But what happened?", asked Anuj.

"I am drunk -without you for the third time! Third time, my friend....in my entire liieeeffff", replied Rishi dramatically.

Anuj laughed realising that Rishi was already out.

"So? It's ok. We will sit again and booze when we meet next year", comforted Anuj.

"Three times I have betrayed you my dear friend. Three times", said Rishi.

"No problem, Rishi. Tell me, did you have fun?", asked Anuj.

"I did not. The last two times were pathetic without you", replied Rishi.

"Stop behaving like a girl now. Go to sleep and we'll talk tomorrow", said Anuj realising that Rishi was getting emotional.

"No Dammit. There was no one to...", started Rishi.

"I know Rishi, how much you value me. But now, you have to stop behaving like a sissy, shut your mouth and go to sleep.", said Anuj.

"Noooo...Anuj... hic...(pause)...", Rishi went silent.

"Rishi.. Rishi, you there?", asked Anuj.

"Yess..... Listen to me now....without interrupting, you A******", shouted Rishi.

Anuj laughed. Hysterically.

"I puked all the three times I boozed without you.", said Rishi, sipping water.

Anuj laughed harder.

"And that too at a girl's place..", said Rishi.

Anuj couldn't control his laughter.

"To top it all, it was while I was...", went on Rishi.

"Don't tell me...", Anuj screeched out laughing out really loud.

"Will you LISTEN", Rishi started getting a bit loud and angry.

"Yeah, tell me. In detail", Anuj calmed down and decided to listen to the story.

"So what was I saying?", Rishi sounded clueless.

"To top it all....", Anuj added, reminding Rishi the last thing he said.

"Yeah, to top it all, it was at Kim's place", said Rishi.

...he continued, "While I went to drop her home when she was totally drunk too".

"Boy!!", said Anuj.

"Kim is a sweetheart. I love her", Rishi said.

"So? Where's she now?",asked Anuj, with a little care.

"She's in the washroom, throwing up", Rishi ended the statement with a demeanour.

Anuj again started laughing.

"What did y'all have?", asked Anuj.

"Just 7 Tequila shots and..", Rishi went on.

"A Champagne", he conlcuded.

"WHHAAATT?? Without me?", asked Anuj.

"The third time", added Rishi.

Anuj hung the phone.

to be contd...


Chapter 2 --> Dreams

Back to Index : A crazy affair - serial fiction

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