Love Forever



  Love Forever

  By Anuraag

  Copyright 2014 Anuraag

  https://plus.google.com/+AnuraagBhaskarbhatta/

  Aaryan remained in bed with his eyes closed. There was nothing interesting around to amuse him anymore. The surgeries and the Chemotherapy had sucked up most of his energy, the hair on his whole body was gone and his skin was white as snow. The heater could heat up the room but what about the coldness within him?

  “The doctor said you may get well soon. Let’s hope for the best dear,” Sunita, his sister said. She touched his forehead and ran her fingers on his bald head.

  “You don’t have to lie to me, sis. I’m 15. I know what the doctor said. I am going to die soon,” he said without caring to open his eyes.

  Sunita’s eyes watered and she wiped them before he opened his eyes. He held her hand and smiled. She kissed him on the right cheek and stood up.

  “I will get some soup for you.” She exited, sniffling.

  He sighed and looked out of the window at the cold damp weather. He had spent most of his life here in Mussoorie, India. Delhi had become his second home, where he had stayed long enough, admitted in the hospital. At 15 years of age he was looking at an endless dark tunnel, hoping against hope for some light on the other end. He missed his friends; none of them had any idea as to why he had left the school. It surprised him that none of them had cared to visit him to find out the reason. They are lazy, he thought. He grinned at thought of his school friends and a series of images ran before him, the football ground, the cycle racing, and the lake where they spent most of their evenings.

  He reached over to his desk and took out a photograph, the class picture and smiled heartily as he glanced over it. He giggled as he remembered how stiff and tight they had stood and then cursing the photographer for making them kneel down with the girls.

  “You boys are short so you better kneel down in the front with the girls” he had said.

  His eyes suddenly fixed upon a face of a girl and his heart throbbed loudly. His stomach danced with excitement and he couldn’t stop grinning.

  “Neha,” he mumbled.

  He kissed the picture and held it close to his chest.

  Sunita stood in the kitchen preparing soup for her brother when her mother marched in with Aaryan following.

  “Sunita explain to him why he should not go out.”

  “Sis, I am sick of staying inside all the time. It makes me claustrophobic. I want fresh air. I want to see the world outside some more before I close my eyes forever,” Aaryan had prepared this dialogue with a lot of practice.

  Sunita was worried but an inner voice called out to her, support him.

  “Alright,” she said looking at her mother, “let him go out mom, the fresh air will only do him good.”

  “Thank you sis.” Aaryan hopped off heartily.

  “Careful!” his mother called out.

  The sky was already dark by the time he reached the town’s bazaar. He looked around, stupefied. This looked like a village fair as compared to the amusement park of Delhi. The bright street lights hurt his eyes and he crawled on along the footpath. Everything seemed so dull, the roadside vendors, the clothes shop, the local cinema house. This place seemed too slow for his pace. In Delhi, people run around all their lives, but here, there are just snails everywhere, he thought.

  Plodding down the street he stopped in front of a shop. ‘Music World’ was written in bold letters on the banner above. He grinned, do they have anything except for the folk music, and he snorted at the thought. He was about to turn back when he saw a girl inside. He zoomed in and found Neha behind the counter. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Yes, it is her. He wondered if he should go in and stood there deciding. Finally gathering his strength he stepped into the shop. The bell on the door tinkled and Neha looked up.

  She smiled at him and welcomed him with her cute eyes. Aaryan smiled and stood there looking at her in amazement.

  “Can I help you?” Neha rose from her seat.

  Aaryan lost the words and stood there terrified, his feet wobbled and sweat filmed his forehead.

  “Sir, how can I help you?” she asked again. Finally Aaryan jerked himself off the trance and smiled back.

  “I want to buy a music CD. Do you have some Linkin Park Music?” he asked affectedly. Of course she doesn’t have Linkin Park; I wonder if she ever heard of it, he smiled to himself.

  She walked up to one of the shelves, “yes, we have their latest album. Wonderful music they got.” She said looking at the CD cover.

  “What!” Aaryan’s head sank into his neck.

  He held the CD and scanned it; I never knew they launched a new album.

  He paid for it and smiled as he reached the door.

  “Visit again. We have the latest music for you.” Neha giggled. He smiled back.

  The night set in and Aaryan lay in the bed gazing at the ceiling. Sunita had just gone downstairs and the room was dark. The moon’s silver radiance filled the room with a faint entrancing light. He was smiling with eyes closed. The image of Neha filled his vision and he could not stop the feelings erupting in his heart. He had missed her a lot.

  The next evening, he was ready again. Happily he hopped off as his sister and mother watched in wonder. The same road, the same old gray sky, the usual vendors, everything was just the usual except for Aaryan. He beamed and there was a rhythm in his movement. The legs danced and his arms swung like a pendulum. He stopped in front of the shop and adjusted his collar. He straightened up and calmed himself.

  “Hello. How are you today?” Neha greeted him with a broad smile.

  “Hey. I am good. What about you?”

  “I am good too. So you liked the album?”

  Aaryan stared at her puzzled.

  “The CD which you bought yesterday,” Neha reminded him.

  “Oh yes, very good music, indeed.” He said as he browsed through the shelves. He hid himself behind the racks and peeked out at her. She sat there writing something in a notebook, in between she would look up and then get back to writing.

  “I will have this one.” Aaryan handed her a CD.

  “Oh, Metallica! Good one, it will blast your head.” She said.

  “Well, I have been looking for one lately.” He smiled foxily.

  She looked at his hands as she took the money. Then her gaze turned to his bald head.

  “It’s just that my Grandfather died.” Aaryan said in a serious tone.

  “I totally understand. By the way what’s your name?”

  What, how can she not remember me? His face contorted, “I’m Aaryan.”

  “Oh, nice. I’m Neha.” They shook hands.

  “Shall I gift wrap the CD?” Neha asked with so much innocence that made him melt away.

  “Sure why not.” He said in a mere whisper.

  She smiled and turned away to wrap the CD. Aaryan was lost in her. How many CDs will I have to buy every day?

  “So, who’s she?” Sunita winked at him as she tucked him in bed.

  “So you know. Her name is Neha; she was my crush in school. And guess what, she doesn’t even remember me. It’s no use going over there. Who will like this white bald boy?” he sighed and sunk into his pillow.

  “Everyone likes you sweet heart. Give her some time.” She kissed his forehead.

  “Well, I wish I had some more time to live, I could spare some for love.” He closed his eyes to visualize Neha’s face. Her shiny ebony hair kissing her shoulders, her fair delicate hands touching his fingers while taking the money, it was so magical.

  All day long he would wait for that one hour of evening to spend with Neha. He was in love with her. He had always been in love with her. He would rehearse all day long and would be a blank pa
per once he was in her presence. All the dialogues he practiced during the day would leave him alone in front of her and he would just stand there with a nervous smile spread across his pale face.

  “So, what band should I listen to today?” he would ask and she would be ready with a CD on her desk.

  “This one.” She would say with a cute smile and he would melt like an ice cream.

  Some days passed this way and his family was happy to see his ever-smiling avatar. Sunita kept his wallet sufficiently filled and he would return home every evening with a gift wrapped CD and a merry wrapped face.

  “I love Origami. I always wanted to learn to make one but never have time for it. After school I do my homework and then come here to the shop,” Neha said one evening.

  That very night he googled ‘Origami’ and spent hours reading about it despite the scolding from his mother and sister.

  “You must go to bed right away.” His sister finally yelled.

  “Alright I’m done.” He squealed and went to bed.

  “So this shop belongs to you?” Aaryan asked her the next