Aanshi

 

Hi, I am Aanshi. The character Dev has scribbled in the last four episodes of DevAanshi. I hope you all know bits and pieces about me by now. Yet, there is an ocean of details you yet to discover about me. I felt like to share my side of the story with you all.  A good story is always being heard from both sides of the coin. I am  5’3” with medium health, a modern-looking girl and fair in complexion. If anything, I love about myself, they are my hairs. I have got them from my Mother. She is The Most Beautiful woman I have ever seen. Even I have saved her number as “Rapunzel” after the animated character from the Hollywood movie Tangled. When she frees her hair on any occasion, with those Knee-length mellifluous straight hairs she looks no less than a gorgeous Indian Queen. For me, she is the knight in shining armour and for her, I am the world, wait hmmm…  maybe more, maybe I am the Galaxy for her.

My Dad, Mr Hari Krishna Chaturvedi is a small businessman and runs an online business partnering with Amazon India. By my Dad’s name do you think he has been named after Hindu God Hari and Krishna? Wait, No. My Grandfather was a great follower and admirer of Hari Krishna Devsare one of the greatest Hindi writer of his time. Inspired from his writings my grandfather had then let my father study more, otherwise, education was not the birthright during those times. Like many Girls, my father is the only superhero to me. He is not only the hero of my life, but he is also a Teddy, my stress-buster, my saviour and the entire sky over my head. I live under his shadow and maybe this is the reason I’ve never felt the pain of scarcity till this stage of life. All my desires have always been fulfilled even before the urge for them arises. Let it be the college friend’s affairs or any office chaos no events of my life are hidden from him. It is my Dad who stood in support of me when I desired to Join this organisation after my graduation.

“We don’t need money. As being your parent God has given us enough to take care of you” My Mom was very adamant in oppose of my desire to join this company. Her only fear was not me joining the company but I would stay away from her for days and months long. It took me a month of time to convince her and she only agreed when Dad assured her after all the background checks about the company.

“I did all the checks about the company and it would be a golden opportunity for our Aanshi to join this prospering organisation at her very early age” Dad said to make Mom understand.

“What about her stay, Food and more on top what about her safety?” Mom questioned with no time from a shadow of wariness.

“You don’t worry. I have arranged them all. She will be in safe hand” Dad tried to comfort her maybe in the best possible way.

“Still, I do not feel good to send her out” Her mother love was overpowering any words of care from my Dad.

“Okay, I promise will take you to her hostel on every weekend or at least twice in a month to meet her” Dad finally said placing his hands-on her shoulders.

It was then my Miss. Rapunzel said “Okay”

On that very moment, I remember how I instantly started floating among clouds. I blinked to my Dad with a smile and he thumped up standing behind Mom.  

Did I tell you about my Brother?

No, not yet. That is because from my childhood I hate him. Sometimes I feel this Devil should have born after me, but unfortunately, it was the other way round. He is only two years elder to me and perhaps like all Indian younger siblings, I never had a chance to wear any new dresses until I joined the school. His thrown away old shirts were then being gifted to me as only dresses to wear and to my poor fate, they always tailored me perfectly. I always wondered had I been a fat kid, I could have at least felt the touch of new dresses during my early age. Today when I open that old photo album, I feel pity to find all my childhood photos in boy’s dress. I still remember how I was reluctant to wear that blue frock on my first day to school considering that as not my dress.

“Maa, I need that blue short pant and white half sleeve shirt like my brother is wearing. This is not my dress” holding the blue frock in hand I said to my Mom.

“Beta, all these days you were a kid, any dresses were fine for you. Now you are a growing girl and you need to be dressed as a girl”

It was that moment I understood girls and boys have different dress codes.

The sharing stories were not limited to only dresses. All his books and notes were also being kept safe for me to use one year after. All my life till college Dad never bought me any new books to study. It was his one-time investment for both of us and obviously, I was always the last to use anything. During my 9^th standard, inside English book, I found a heart symbol with an arrow piercing it from left bottom to right top drawn with red ink and to my strange there was this name “Aisha” in the middle of the heart. I was grown enough to understand what does that mean by then. That was the key for me to blackmail him, and I still smile thinking how he offered me a 50 rupees Cadbury dairy milk on the next day to remain silent. Perhaps this is the only matter I have hidden from Dad till now. We are less of a brother and sister and more of fighting partners. He is now living in Mumbai and working for an IT giant.

Back to me,

I joined this organisation 4 years before. Since then, it’s an ever-prospering journey. From a mere supporting assistant to an assisting corporate manager, I have travelled the distance during these 4 years. Yes! as you know I do not like my manager, I feel he lacks in people management skill. Probably he needs to educate himself about codes and conducts of professional life a bit more. This frustrated corporate life has manipulated my mind to use F-words very often. And guess what, using cuss words were an attribute to look “cool!” for me until I bumped onto Dev. I realised a bit of sarcasm with proper English is even better than F-word. During my initial months of office, I used to travel home every weekend to see My Rapunzel and Dad. But since a year ever since I have been promoted it’s tough to do so. Few months before my weekends were all about sleep, eat and sleep. Nowadays the story is different.

It was a weekend and I wanted to speak with Payal, one of my friends who stays here in Bhopal. I dialled the number in hurry and unfortunately, the call landed to Dev. I never knew this man before. That wrong number call was just a mere accident. Again, as they say, and I quote “Strangers are just family you have not met yet”. I felt like speaking with someone whom I know for ages or someone of my very own. The moment he said “I have something to confess and was only praying God for some hints” I felt like I know his pain. Not on every day or every moment you feel the breeze around you. You need that special moment and that special person to trigger that hidden emotion. Post that first call I spend the whole night thinking about him. I was only questioning my inner sense “why am I feeling his pain?” “Why am I feeling that I know him?”

Next morning, I woke up with a heavy head. I wanted to call him to ask about wellbeing’s but refrained myself from doing so. As I work for an insurance company my number travels to different parts of India. In past on a number of occasions I have received disturbing calls from some of my ex-clients. Yes, this is unprofessional but every time I convinced myself saying “We are living in a world full of morons”.

“Perhaps it’s a good idea to allow one whole week and check if he calls from his end” the inner sense advised me and I decided to not call him on that day. In desperation to relax my over-thinker mind, I pulled out my phone and dialled Rapunzel.

The next week in the office went exceptionally good until that Friday. My Fat-Ass boss created some chaos out of nowhere to ruin my day and the entire week. That evening when I reached in the room, I went nuts and wanted to speak with someone. The only name popped in my head was of Dev. I did not allow my over-thinker mind this time to refrain me from calling him.

Within a few minutes of that call, I got to know he had not saved my number till then. I do not know why but that felt a bit bad instantly. Thought, he might be an arrogant man with no respect. But later when I vomited all my agonies out, I felt much relaxed. Further ahead, when I discovered his interests in writings, poems and mythology I was very much happy for bumping accidentally onto a man of this intelligence. Later that call he promised would save my number, I wonder with what name he did that. But I have saved his number as “Dev Babu”, Yes! Obviously inspired by Shahrukh Khan’s legendary movie Devdas.

My urge to know him better grew many folds post that call. The night whole I spend thinking about how he looks like? How old he must be? What he might be thinking about me for calling him again? And whatnot. “But wait, why are you even thinking about him? You wanted to vomit your agonies and now as you are relaxed, should you not stop thinking about him?” the mini-me within warned me. I decided to sleep rather weighing up my tiny head more.

Next Monday when I reached office, I received a call from my manager.

“Hey! Aanshi I’ll be on emergency leave for the whole week. Travelling to native and will only be back on next Monday. Please look after all the new assignments. I’ve mailed you those details” from the other side he said.

“Could there be any better news than this? Please stay there forever, we still can manage” the Mini-me started screaming within.

“Okay Sir, No worry. Hope everything is fine there. Hope to see you soon back in the office” holding that joyous Mini-me I replied from my side on phone.

The whole week was a blessing. I remember in the last one and a half years I never spent a whole damm week without looking at his face.  I could not be happier than that. Wanted to share this with Dev, I was sure he’d feel the same joy as I was feeling then. The over-thinker mind appeared from nowhere to advise “Keep this joy for another weekend call”

Later that week, on Friday all colleagues decided to have some fun at work. Megha, a colleague to me came up with this idea of Truth and Dare game. We all joined with no object and ended up knowing a few more secrets about each other. All these were only possible because that grumpy ass was not in the office.

It was from there I picked up the idea of playing Truth Game with Dev. Definitely, it is the Truth and the Truth alone that holds the root of any relationship. I was excited for the next day to speak with him. Friday evening, I thought to send a message to Dev asking if he is free for a call tomorrow? Again, thought it would be better to just dial rather than asking for it. No communication had happened till then, that was another fact refrained me strongly. That Saturday evening before I called him many permutations and combinations crossed my thoughts. “What if he asks to share some hidden secrets? What level of information I am ready to share with him at this stage?” tens may be many more questions were juggling in mind.

During college three boys had proposed and I had denied them all back then instantly. The first proposal was during my first month of college. That boy used a mutual friend to inform me about his feelings. I was studious and ignored him like one ignores background dancers in a Bollywood song. The second one came from an unexpected place. He was my friend's brother  and I rejected him respecting my friend and our friendship. The third proposal, not only me any girl of my taste would reject them without a second thought. He was a roadside male chauvinist; I would rather use the word 'A Chhappri'. I still remember how my brother helped then to protect me. I wanted to share these incidents with Dev. “No, you only share if he asks any questions” my mind convinced me. However, that idiot never asked me anything about this. I still wonder if he has any growing interest in me? Or it is only me who is feeling some strange giggle these days?

Later, on that week’s call when he expressed his excitement to see me, an unknown exhilaration ran through my body. He not only tried to find me over social media but also went through all file details about Bhopal pride march with a hope to find me. Listening all that he did during the week, I felt cupid has got our names on the arrow. I was floating among clouds. Even though he was a stranger to me but I was feeling more comfortable with him than any colleagues whom I know for years.

“Should I tell him what I am feeling about him?” I asked myself.

“No, Aanshi. This is a very early stage to express anything. Use your mind, do not let those young hormones hi-jack your thought making process” My mind in return warned me.

Post that week’s call I felt two divergent destinies are closing faster to intersect. I was happy for many reasons, that unknown exhilaration and more on top that essence of someone being there for me to share my agonies without any second thoughts. I wanted to share this with my Dad. Wanted to tell him how I bumped onto Dev and how a good friendship we both have developed by now.

“No, hold on for some time. Maybe this is again a very early stage and Dad may misjudge whatever you say. After all, only three calls so far with a stranger cum Dev Babu” as usual my overthinker mind advised and I decided to respect her decision.

The next week at the office we had a small party to celebrate our achievements. Our Q3 performance was 15% better than Q2. The company offered an executive dinner to our team and my manager arranged everything. Certainly, he is very good at it. That Friday evening, we were at the Hotel ‘Raw the Restrobar by Chef AJ’ undoubtedly one of the best Indian Italian restaurants in Bhopal. Had Dev stayed in Bhopal, I could have asked him to join me.  

Next Sunday, Dev treated me dinner from the hotel Bikanervala. Was that a mere coincidence or any hint from God? The day I shifted to Bhopal from the village, Dad and my Rapunzel both came with me. For lunch on that day, Dad had opted Bikanervala. Bikanervala was always special to me for I had my first family lunch there during my Bhopal stay. Now I’ll remember this hotel for something even greater reason.

On the call, I wanted to share why I love Bikanervala, then this over-thinker mind confused me saying “Perhaps what is God’s hint for you, might that be just a mere coincidence for him”. I decided to control my words.

These days I am sensing some changes within. Never before I tried to look good. Never before I cared about my eyes and now, I’m falling for my deep black L’Oreal Paris Kajal Magique. Last week I had a hair cut and SPA from IDEAL SALON. They did a pretty decent job, my locks are silkier now than before. I’m waiting to travel home next week and show this to my Rapunzel, we always compete with each other. I even have joined a gym for early morning Acrobatics. On top of everything, my manager does not seem to be a demon to me anymore, more or less he is a cartoon character for me now. I have learnt how to smile and move on to his anger.

I should let Dev know all these and many more. Will he understand me? Will he understand my feelings? If he understands, will he appreciate them? Wait, why his appreciations are all I am needing now? Am I falling for him? Is this the indication? 

Ufff…. This is too late at night to think. I must call him tomorrow….