It Started with a Friend Request Read online

  Also by Sudeep Nagarkar

  Few Things Left Unsaid

  That’s the Way We Met

  Published by Random House India in 2013

  Copyright © Sudeep Nagarkar 2013

  Random House Publishers India Private Limited

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  A-1, Sector-125, Noida-201301, UP

  Random House Group Limited

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  London SW1V 2SA

  United Kingdom

  This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  EPUB ISBN 9788184004540

  To my Mickey and Minnie

  Kisi ko paana ya khona apne bas me nahi hota,

  Kisi ko badal ke pyaar karna, pyaar ke naseeb me nahi hota!

  Sachhi chaahat hai agar usey paane ki,

  Toh himmat rakho usey waise hi apnaane ki!

  Contents

  Prologue

  Aleesha

  Akash

  Tamanna

  A Date on BlackBerry

  A Movie During Interval

  Coffee on the Rocks

  Four Seasons to Cloud Nine

  Sealed With a Kiss

  Exploring the ‘No-Male’ Territory

  Corporate Atyachaar

  Unhooked and Booked

  Go Goa

  Kisses and Misses

  From Ashes to Ashes

  Price & Prize of Professionalism

  Everything He Did, He Did It For Her

  I Love You So Much, It Hurts

  What an Idea, Sirji!

  Never Knew Love Like This

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  A Note on the Author

  Prologue

  He was sitting all alone, away from the world, hoping for a new morning in his life, thinking about how harshly life had treated him and brooding over what exactly had gone wrong.

  He was busy thinking, When things go wrong, you feel so miserable and all you wish for is to completely erase the bad memories, especially when your intention was never to do wrong. Or was it? Was her death my fault? When things are not under your control, you feel so helpless before your so-called ‘destiny’.

  The cold moon was peeking through the clouds floating above Lavasa valley. It was a perfect moment to hide yourself in the arms of your beloved; here he was, all by himself, with no one to keep him company. His fair skin was hidden behind a stubble and his depressed state was visible not only from his sore eyes but his defeated face as well.

  As he threw away his cigarette and turned, he saw a girl walking towards him. She was wearing a red top and jeans. He could not see her clearly as she was a bit far off and the fog had lowered visibility. He kept on staring at her to find out who she was. As she came close, he could see that she had left her hair loose. Her face was still not visible. But he felt as if it was a familiar face by the way she walked and the way her hands played with her hair. It was then that he saw her clearly. Her smiling face and her sparkling beautiful eyes made his heart skip a beat. She was his girlfriend, the one for whom he could have sacrificed his life. They loved each other so much that if angels were watching them from heaven, they would have been left stunned.

  She came and stood close to him. He was lost in her eyes. He didn’t realize when she came and sat on his lap. Their breaths embraced and their lips were only inches away from each other. Then a strange sound fell on his ears and he closed his eyes. Suddenly everything flashed in front of him and took him back to that day when he lost his love, friends, job—everything.

  He remembered all the accusations she had made on him—You are solely responsible for this mess. You deserve nothing better. You can try to be honest to yourself, if nothing else. And if you can’t, then go away! Suddenly everybody was pointing fingers at him. Suddenly he had become answerable to everyone around him. He saw nothing but a dead end ahead.

  He opened his eyes wishing to see her in front of him, but there was no one. He searched for her in all directions, wishing to be with her at that moment. He wanted to relive all their memorable moments again, but all his desires evaporated in thin air as he sat in his resigned state. Sometimes he would question himself whether he was really innocent. Or was he the culprit behind all the chaos that had occurred in the last few months?

  He was about to light another cigarette when Kritika came and stood next to him, patting him on his back. Kritika was his 4 am friend who always supported him in the worst of situations. She was your typical girl next door, with short hair and a cute smile. She was full of positive energy and could make anyone feel happy even on the worst of days. According to her, the reason behind her charm and beauty was the amethyst crystal she carried in the locket around her neck. She believed it was a symbol of positive energy and could seduce anyone around her. Kritika was one of his best friends, even though they had met only a few months ago. Together they believed that: ‘Time cannot define your relationship. It’s the bonding you share even if you have met a day before.’

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.

  ‘I just want to be left alone. I want to be away from everyone.’

  ‘What will you achieve by doing that? We all know that you are innocent. Whatever happened was fate’s doing. You are not responsible for the accident. I am sure you will find some way or the other to prove your innocence. You just have to wait for the right time to come,’ Kritika consoled him.

  ‘I really don’t know how to do that. It seems as if sand is slipping through my hands and I am watching helplessly.’

  ‘Come on now, everyone is waiting for you at the hotel. It’s my birthday.’

  Kritika had booked them at the Ekaanth Hotel to celebrate her birthday on February 13.

  As soon as he got up, a drop of tear rolled down his cheek. He remembered all that he had been accused of, and that broke his spirit into pieces. He took out his mobile phone and sent a message to Aleesha.

  It’s hard to describe how I feel now. I want to explain everything to you, but I don’t know how to. I feel so alone and I’m scared. All kinds of thoughts are running through my mind. Stress is eating me up every minute. If only you were by my side today, I would have never felt so alone. Our gang has gathered here to celebrate a birthday party and my eyes still search only for you. But alas, you are not here. Do you feel the same pain as I do?

  Kritika was watching him, waiting patiently for him to finish texting. She thought of making him understand that everything will be back in its place one day. However, she avoided looking at him as it would hurt him more. She looked the other way round, rubbing her hands, trying to keep herself warm in the cold wind.

  It was a starless night. The other couples around him seemed to enjoy the darkness of the night and the privacy it allowed them. It was not the same for Kritika and him though. Kritika was extremely worried for her friend who was looking for a way to bring back normalcy to his life. But they knew that they were trying to climb an impossibly high peak. They were trying to forget the hurt of the past and the fears of the future, wishing his life gets back on track soon, and with it, the smile on his face.

  ‘Thanks, Kritika, for being by my side during this tough phase,’ he said feigning a smile.

  ‘Oh, shut up! I know how much
you love Aleesha.’

  Just the mention of her name was enough to bring a smile to his face. She meant a lot to him and he needed her to support him against all odds. She was the love of his life. He looked back to see whether he had really seen her a few minutes ago. But Aleesha was nowhere around him.

  Aleesha

  ‘Aleesha…Aleesha… Your dad just called up to say that the first list of colleges is out,’ Aleesha’s mom screamed from the kitchen.

  Aleesha was addicted to her BlackBerry Messenger and was busy chatting with her friends in her bedroom.

  ‘Aleesha… Keep your phone aside. Your BBM is not going to help you secure admission anywhere. You need a degree in BMM, not BBM. Stop that right away and check the list on the website,’ she continued screaming.

  Realizing her mom was not going stop till she succeeds in stopping her, she kept her phone aside. She looked irritated at having been asked to stop chatting since she was expecting a confirmation message from one of her friends for a late night house party. She turned on the monitor and logged on to the website. Simultaneously, she also opened a separate tab for Facebook.

  Born and brought up in Kolkata, Aleesha was the only child of her parents. They were Thakurs, and her parents saw to it that she was thoroughly pampered. She was extremely beautiful, so much so that no one could ever get tired of looking at her. She was as picturesque as a sunset on the ocean shore. Her eyes twinkled and glittered, her lips were luscious and glossy, and they had the power to mesmerize anyone. Her smile was enough to lighten up the whole of Kolkata. She was like a hot summer’s day which could make one sweat. She was not a fashion freak, but knew how to carry herself gracefully. The dimples on her cheeks could give any Miss World tough competition. Not only did she possess looks to die for, she also had equally sharp brains which made her an instant hit wherever she went. She was one of the toppers of her college and had aimed to do her graduation from the dream city—Mumbai.

  It was decision day for her. She entered her application number and closed her eyes for a minute, praying for the best.

  Nielsen College, Mumbai

  Aleesha shouted in happiness so loudly that her mother came running from the kitchen.

  ‘Yay mom, I made it,’ shouted Aleesha jumping on her bed.

  Her mom gave her a tight hug and went to share the news with her father over the phone. After a long discussion with her parents, it was decided that Aleesha would soon fly to Mumbai and take up admission in Nielsen College. Aleesha’s dream was finally coming true and they decided to call for a short family get-together as a success and farewell party for Aleesha.

  Relatives and friends gathered at their house the following evening for mocktails and dinner. Aleesha wanted the party to get over soon because she had to join her friends for another party. Aleesha’s dad was busy chatting with his friend Mr Kapoor about accommodation options for his daughter when Mr Kapoor suggested Aleesha could stay with his own daughter who was working in Mumbai.

  ‘Don’t worry. They say good people and opportunities meet when they are supposed to. As you know, my daughter Tamanna is also working in Mumbai. It just so happens that even Tamanna is looking for someone to share the apartment with. So Aleesha can stay with her, if you agree. I assure you, it will be a safe and secure home for Aleesha,’ Mr Kapoor suggested.

  Without giving it a second thought, Aleesha’s parents agreed to let their daughter stay with Tamanna. They believed that staying with Tamanna would be the best possible option for Aleesha since they had known the Kapoors for almost a decade. Aleesha herself had wanted to stay alone so she could enjoy her freedom and the city nightlife. She had no option but to concede to her parent’s wishes. Also, she was in a hurry to leave for the late night house party. An argument there and then would have been a waste of time, which she wanted to avoid.

  After all the after dinner formalities were over, Aleesha took their permission to go out with her friends and left with the promise that she will be back for yet another boring family bonding over drinks. She had been waiting for the late night party all evening. It was going to be the last time she was going to meet her best buddies before setting off for Mumbai. After the party, she bid a final goodbye to them, and soon it was time to head for Mumbai.

  ‘Dad, I have just landed in Mumbai. Tamanna is waiting at the arrivals gate. I will call you back once I am settled,’ Aleesha spoke on the phone while bringing down her luggage from the conveyor belt.

  After collecting her luggage, she headed eagerly towards the arrivals gate. She was searching for Tamanna when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulders.

  ‘Tamanna Kapoor.’

  ‘Hey. I’ve been looking for you. What’s up?’ Aleesha asked with a broad smile on her face.

  ‘Let’s leave. The car is waiting. I have to get back to office,’ Tamanna said in a rush, choosing to ignore Aleesha’s pleasantries. Her cold behaviour made Aleesha feel awkward, but she recollected what her dad had told her, ‘Tamanna is an independent girl and doesn’t like too much interference in her personal life, though she is very active socially.’

  They walked towards the car together. Within a few minutes, the car was cruising on Mumbai’s roads.

  Aleesha was trying to soak in the city. She poked her head out of the car and let the breeze run through her hair. She closed her eyes as she felt the air on her face. The car halted abruptly at a red light and broke her spell. Tamanna instructed the driver to put on the AC. Aleesha glanced sideways at Tamanna to find her busily working on her laptop. She told Aleesha that she had come to pick her up during office hours and being one of the managers in the office, she had to be on her toes, at least during office hours.

  Aleesha wanted to stop the car near the seaside and watch the sunset, but she knew Tamanna was getting late. They finally reached Tamanna’s Churchgate apartment. It had two bedrooms, which made Aleesha sigh in relief since that meant she didn’t have to share her bedroom with Tamanna.

  ‘Aleesha, you can settle down. I have to leave for office. I will return around 8 pm in the evening. If you want something to eat, then there are some snacks in the fridge, or you can even place an order at the nearby snacks corner. Their menu card is kept on the dining table. Chal bye, I am leaving. Take care.’

  Aleesha listened to all the instructions and nodded in agreement.

  Lying on the bed, she could not believe that she was finally in Mumbai. She had a quick nap and then called up her parents. After unpacking, she couldn’t resist her urge to update a status on Facebook and connect with her friends back home whom she was missing already. She also updated her BBM status.

  She dropped a message in the group chat.

  I am extremely happy and super excited to be in the city of dreams. But feels like I have left a part of me in Kolkata. I miss baba, maa, and all you guys. Before this day, I never thought that a few hours of separation could hurt so much. Miss you all. Suddenly I find myself thinking about my childhood and the time when I was learning to ride a bicycle. I fell and bruised myself several times but never gave up. You all used to tease me a lot and would make me cry until I stopped. Now I remember all the fun we had during Durga Puja. You all stood by me for so many years which made me strong from within. Here, there is no one yet but yes, if I get my prince charming here, I will surely let you know. Bye everyone. Miss me and if possible, go and see baba and maa. Love you all. Muaahhhhhh

  It had been a week since her arrival, but with each passing day, Aleesha kept feeling more and more homesick. She still had couple of days before her college to start and all the admission formalities to be completed. It was Saturday evening and she had convinced Tamanna, who was still not very friendly, to take her for an outing. Surprisingly, Tamanna had agreed, which made Aleesha super excited as she was going to witness Mumbai’s nightlife for the first time. She looked in the mirror and thought of what to wear to the outing. She decided to wear a knee–length black one–piece dress with wooden bangles and minimal make up—a little lipgl
oss and black eyeliner.

  On their way, Aleesha asked Tamanna, ‘Tamanna di, you must be used to nightlife of Mumbai by now, right?’ Aleesha was trying to be not so personal in her questions for she knew by now that Tamanna was a bit reserved.

  ‘Call me Tammy. And yes, I’ve been in Mumbai for a long time now. But from the last couple of years, if you exclude a few discos and food joints, everything shuts down before 2 am,’ Tamanna smiled.

  It was perhaps the first time Tamanna had let her guard down in front of Aleesha. Her informality made Aleesha smile. She had made it clear to Aleesha from the first day itself that she was the reserved sorts and didn’t like anyone interfering in her personal life too much. So the reply from Tamanna came as a pleasant surprise to Aleesha.

  Both of them had a ball during the outing, and spent some good time together at Malabar Hills. They then went to ‘The Pizzeria’ at Nariman Point for dinner. After dinner, Aleesha insisted they go for drinks at a nearby discotheque. Tamanna thought about it and decided to take Aleesha to the happening ‘Thrive’ disc in Colaba.

  It was Saturday night and the disc was as crowded as the Virar local train. It was full of college students who came in to party late at night, already piss drunk. Those who say there is a certain age limit for drinking will find their perceptions tested once they enter this place. Thrive has an absolutely wannabe-ish crowd consisting mostly of students trying to get a roof to hide from their parents. A first-time visitor to the place will question if girls ever wear jeans or salwar kameez since all one could see was girls in miniskirts and hot pants.

  When Aleesha and Tamanna entered the disc, the scene was no different. It was a typical Thrive weekend night. Smoke filled the air and the teenagers were grooving madly to the latest songs being played by the DJ. Tamanna ordered a drink for Aleesha and herself. Time flew, and soon both of them were three shots down.

  Tamanna got a call from office and she excused herself and went outside, as it was impossible to answer the call with such loud music playing in the background. Aleesha was busy dancing and enjoying her drink when an unknown guy came up on the dance floor and started grooving right next to her. She didn’t really mind his proximity to her since she was enjoying herself too much to bother and was also under the influence of alcohol.