Undisputed Rituals

The night is pitch dark.

The flashlights of thunder and lightening is simply distracting at this hour but the soothing sound of the endless rain and the smell of the fresh mud, spreading its specialty through the nature, is helpful in a way.

There are no signs of stars as the clouds need to empty their bucket of sprinkling tears to disappear. The humidity is well controlled as the hot and hectic summer had nothing to offer but the ruthless sun. The earphones are plunged inside the ears to deny the entrance of soulless thunder.

The half asleep body has nothing to say but blame the sound of the furious nature, pouring all the rage through the horrific sound of thunder.

There’s no story coming ahead, you might wanna lower your expectations this time but its good to expect if the writer is damn good but I feel embarrassed to call myself worthy to enter the world of words and fiction.

 The mind is empty, trying to recreate the scenarios for a new page.

Let’s start the story then. The story kinda starts when it’s raining too.

The exam time is the most hectic period in student’s life.

WRONG.

It’s a mind fuck period when you have completed your college and you don’t know what to do next.

           ********

“Still studying, asshole?” Farah texted.

Viber has saved a lot of pennies these days. The purple color of Viber is kinda seeking attention all the time.

“That’s your thing. Not mine. I am watching a movie.” Wasim texted back.

“Its easy man. I am being over confident though. *Touchwood.* “Farah texted.

The strange ringtone of Viber started ringing with displaying “Farah Calling” on the screen.

“Pause the movie. Argh all I can hear is that typical Indian music.” She said without even letting him say anything.

“My voice is damn good that you can’t resist listening to it with any other distractions.” He laughed.

“Ya Ya you know everything sucker.” She shoved his humor away.

“We may be the only ones not studying right now, you know that right? Raman and Shekhar have their phones, switched off.” Wasim said.

“They are the toppers. It would be injustice to Goddess Saraswati if they don’t fulfill their obligations.”

They both laughed.

“Waaaaaaasimmmm. You have exams tomorrow and instead of studying you are wasting your time, giggling, watching some stupid videos, huh?” His mother’s voice could clearly be heard from the phone.

“No Ma. I am studying.” He replied politely.

“Lol. Hahahaha.” She couldn’t stop laughing.

“I’ll call you in a bit. Shut up.” He uttered the words very slowly and clearly.

“Alright. Don’t start studying without letting me know.” She replied.

Wasim ended the call. It was still raining outside.

He could only imagine and make weird faces thinking about the muddy roads that would result because of the heavy rain.

I am still alive but I’m barely breathing…..

The Irish Band “The Script” was offering some good music from his cellphone. He was humming the lyrics with them.

Although it was raining, the temperature inside the room was a bit warm as it was summer.

Wasim didn’t hear any noise outside now. He thought everyone slept by then.

He slowly opened the door to balcony and welcomed the cold breezy air inside.

He took out his phone and started calling Farah now.

Farah picked up the phone without letting it ring for a bit, as if she was waiting for the call.

“Woah Woah lady. That desperate to hear my voice.” Wasim said.

“Yeah baby. I want you. I need you.”

“Loserrrr.”

“You are out of my league. Do I need to remind that to you, time and again?” Farah trolled him.

The phone conversation of the college students never seemed to end quickly even when it was paid and now they have free apps.

        **********

Raman and Shekhar were studying like if they had entered this world just to study and study was their one and only mission.

Both of them were childhood friends and both were from Taulihawa.

They resided together as roommates in the valley in a rented two room flat.

Their flat consisted of a kitchen and a bed in one room and a bed and a study table in another, and of course a book shelf was there with lots of torn, old books.

The assets were torn, but their hopes of doing something for the future; their aim was brand new, polished with updates every day.

“Number 17, where’s the solution?” Raman shouted from his room.

Shekhar after scattering the works from the table, “I don’t know bro. I know now, this question is surely gonna be there tomorrow.”

“Don’t panic. We might have misplaced it. We can always ask Farah or Wasim.” Raman replied.

“I hope they have. Their works have a greater chances of being misplaced than us.” Shekhar said.

“You keep on studying the things you have.” Raman comforted.

“The last year did flow with time quickly. Final exams man. One last time.” Shekhar said.

“Sssshhhh now. Limit your thoughts to yourself for tonight.” Raman ordered.

On the other side of the same world, Farah and Wasim were busy with the phone conversation.

“After college life is exciting but scary.” Farah said.

“Do you see those little raindrops splashing on the ground? We are like those small tiny drops and we are gonna scatter and disappear somewhere.” Farah added.

“You are not gonna be able to get rid of me that easily babe.” Wasim tried to cheer her up.

“Damn it. All my hopes have shattered into pieces.” They laughed.

“Now go study. Go through the notes. We’ll meet after…um *looking at the watch* after 7 hours.” Wasim said.

“I’ll prolly sleep instead. You study.” She replied.

“Goodnight.” Wasim said.

“Goodnight.” Farah replied.

There comes a point when goodnight feels incomplete and you miss the person but the unworthy silence is all you can crave for or you could call them again, right away.

Wasim was staring at the black sky emptying its bucket, searching for his answers as people do almost everything but study, one day before exams.

The long gap of six days could make them study in the sixth day. The gap was of no need at all.

The night ended like never before with the soulful music of rains transforming into the lullaby for many people.

The stressed minds of people were somehow calmed down with the weather.

The final exam ended like the end of a nasty meal prepared by your mom. You have to finish it anyhow.

The exam season was finally over for all four of them. Practicals were left but the major part was over.

“Finally.” Farah exclaimed a sigh of relief.

“Damn it.” Wasim was like over the moon.

“We have more to achieve still.” Raman said with his eyes stuck at the question paper.

“But for today, imagine there’s no tomorrow.” Wasim snatched the question paper from Raman.

“It’s mine. I’ll put it inside.” Shekhar said.

The aim and ambition of all four of them were different. The scary choices would determine the future scenarios as every choice would lead a person to different story.

Farah was all set to apply for abroad and preparing for IELTS. Wasim was applying for BBA as he was fed up of Physics and Chemistry.

Raman and Shekhar still had some studying energy left so Raman joined a MBBS prep class whereas Shekhar took classes for engineering preparations.

Four different people with versatile behavior and how life bounds them to a single path.

They spent almost a year and the three of them achieved what they wanted.

Applying for abroad was a choice Farah made but maybe something else was there for her. She was upset. Sometimes she would call Wasim and he would try to cheer her up.

Farah was a year behind her friends. She was keen to try again abroad but the pressure she felt from her family made her feel like she was not capable at all.

She was to wait a year anyway so she decided to try for abroad but not that seriously like she did at the first attempt.

Raman was well equipped with his doctoral course and had lost contact with all three of them.

The pictures of Shekhar with his thick beard and long hair could be seen on Facebook. And of course the comments like “you have changed man” would always be there.

Shekhar was never fond of calling. He’d rather prefer texting.

Wasim was the closest friend Farah had, closer than anyone else. They both would be updated with every single things of each other’s lives.

But now, Farah was staying idle, at home all day like a loner. She would ask Wasim to come over or hang out but Wasim being busy in his new lofe and new friends, couldn’t donate some of his time to her.

The batch mates would be seen happy and all in their respective colleges and Farah would feel guilty of making a bad choice.

The society has raised us in a way that the parents never forget to compare with the best students. They never compare with the shit ones and make us feel proud for a day.

No matter how hard you work and achieve, there will always be someone achieving more.

The frequent nagging of the parents had mentally killed Farah and she needed a new page in her life. She couldn’t wait until the next intake.

Wasim would call her in a month or so, making her smile for that night.

Finally, after the constant pressure from the parents and the vacant life she had, one year felt like ten years. She felt like she need to make better choices as the first one was a bad, naïve one.

But the wait was over. She was to go to the States for her further study. She had to wait for a year to find a new hope in her life.

She called Wasim and gave him the news as the other two of them were contactless.

Life is an amalgamation of choices. There are no such things as bad choices.

The pressure from her parents and loneliness did make her strong and gave her a period to properly think about what to do next.

Farah was finally leaving. Wasim was there at the airport with some tears of joy and some tears of goodbye.

She had set foot on a new journey and her parents had no complaints for now.

It’s a ritual for the parents to apply pressure on their children, compare them.

Farah stepped foot to the new world. She contacted Wasim at first but the time zone and lack of communication sucked her into her new world and she disappeared from Wasim’s life.

Maybe it’s a ritual to lose friends too. The close ones are always the first ones to disappear.

It took them almost four years to graduate. Farah returned to Nepal for a short period.

Wasim had completed his course and was preparing for Masters.

Raman and Shekhar were busy in their respective careers.

Wasim did use to work in Thamel in a travel agency. He was utilizing his free period working in his brother’s venture.

One fine day, in the busy streets of Thamel, he saw a familiar face. He wanted to remain civilized and be a part of the society but his inner nerves wanted him to shout and he did shout, “Faraahhh”.

It had been almost five years since they talked. The places in each others heart were occupied by someone else by then and they had been the dusty old picture from the past junked in the store, if found mistakenly, it would bring a smile to your face for that particular moment.

“Wasim. Woah. It’s been long. How are you?” Farah said.

“I have been good. You? When did you come back?” Wasim asked.

“Great. A week ago. What are you doing these days then?” Farah frequently checking time on her watch.

“I work with my brother and am preparing for my Masters. Do you plan to stay here now or you are heading back?” Wasim asked.

“I am here for a short period. I‘ll return next month maybe.” Farah said.

“I am kinda in a hurry. I’ll talk to you later? “Farah added in a rush.

“Okay”. Farah walked before listening to what Wasim had to say.

All Wasim could do was to smile and watch her walk way as long as his eyes could, and lose her in the crowd.

A conversation with an old friend after a long gap not only added some awkwardness but also a formality.

The friends who used to nag each other with silly names, once upon a time, talked like two professional businessmen.

This time, Farah had no one but her family to bid her goodbye at the airport.

Maybe it’s a rule of life to update the priorities with time, make some changes in life, lose friends to grow up in life, add new faces for a change. Maybe it’s all part of a plan.

Maybe the characters in your life story needs to be added and subtracted after their part is over. After all you are the one creating the next part with the choices you’ve made.

After all you are a character to someone else’s life. Some added you in their life and some subtracted.

Maybe it’s all part of a plan.

Just maybe!!