Diya Rai – Karan Returns

For another year, Diya had no proposals or unnecessary confrontations with boys. The 12th grade board exams contributed a major part for the peacefulness of the classroom. Apart from occasional outings with her friends, Diya kept away from other sources of enjoyment. She immersed herself in books, crazily preparing for her board exams. She stopped writing stories, but got in touch with her journal occasionally. There was also another thing which kept bothering her. Her career decision! She knew that she wanted to be a writer. When she put forth her views to her parents, they lost their cool and opposed her decision. Especially with her father having lost his job, her mom sternly said that she must have a well-settled job in her life. Mamta Rai put forward options like taking up B.Com or Chartered Accountancy, but Diya completely despised them. She knew she would miserably fail in her life if she goes against her heart’s wishes. Hence, she made up her mind to take up B.A English Literature.

“Literature? What future does literature hold? What will you become after that?” asked Mamta Rai disgustingly.

“I will become a writer, Ma. I will work with a magazine or a newspaper. I assure you that I will get paid well. Also, I will be able to achieve my dreams.”

“Shut up, Diya! Everyone has dreams, but not everyone can achieve theirs. You should also take your family into account. Can’t you see that I am struggling as the lone breadwinner?”

“Ma, but you earn enough for our family. When you can take care of both Anjali’s and my education expenses, why can’t you allow me to follow my passion? And please don’t think that writing doesn’t pay well. Writers too get paid adequately. Please have an open mind, Ma.”

“Don’t dare to speak like that to me! Do you know what I am going through? All you know is that I pay your school fees, feed you well and bring you up. Do you know how much compromise I am doing behind that? It’s not as easy as you think, Diya. I am literally struggling.”

“Sorry, Ma, but my dreams are important too. I have only one life, Ma. Why can’t I do what I like?”

“You can write while you work in a good company, Diya. You can take writing as your part-time job. I am not completely against your wishes. But if you take writing as your main profession, I am sure you’d struggle to make ends meet.”

“Okay, then in future, find me a husband who earns millions. Then, my family will be fine. Now, please let me take up Literature.” Diya folded her hands together and begged her mom.

Mamta flashed a defeated look at her. “Diya darling, please listen….” She tried to persuade her. But being the headstrong girl, Diya told that she wouldn’t take no for an answer. At that moment, Rohit Rai made an appearance in the room.

“I have been listening to the entire conversation. I think Diya is right. Life is short. Let her follow her passion.” His voice had a tint of determination.

“Rohit! Are you also with her? What do you know about all these? You’ve become jobless. You shouldn’t have a say in this.”

“Please don’t patronize me, Mamta. I accept that you’re the current breadwinner of the family. But do remember that even I was earning for this family. Just because I became jobless doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t interfere in my daughter’s career decisions. And I am her father. I have all the rights to advise her on what’s right and what’s wrong.”

“I..I am sorry,” stuttered Mamta Rai.

An awkward silence hung after that. Neither of them spoke.

“Papa, tell something.” Diya broke the ice.

“Yeah, I have said, Diya. You can take up Literature.”

“Ma?” Diya looked at her mom questioningly.

But Mamta held a grim face. She didn’t look into Diya’s eyes. She looked at the wall and spoke, “If your father is okay with it, then I am also okay with it.”

“Ma, this is not fair. Please accept my decision wholeheartedly.”

On hearing those words, Mamta Rai turned and looked at Diya. Her eyes were filled with anger. Yet she calmed her expression and said, “Give me some time to come to terms with this. For now, you can take up whatever you like.”

With that, Mamta stood up from the chair fiercely, moved towards her room and banged the door shut.

Diya looked at her father with a remorseful look.

“Don’t mind about her. She will be fine. Now, you go and prepare for your exams.” He gently patted on her back and moved away.

Diya slumped down on the sofa with her hands on her head. Anjali Rai came over and sat softly beside her, “Didi, don’t worry. Ma will accept your decision soon.”

Diya looked up and smiled at her. “Thank you, Anju, but I am afraid that she wouldn’t talk with me properly.”

“Arey, don’t worry. She will behave normal with you.”

“Achcha, tell me, what do you want to become?”

“Fashion designer.”

Diya gasped. “Ma was furious for Literature itself. I don’t know how she will react for Fashion.”

“I think she will become open-minded within that.”

“We can’t conclude anything now. Let’s wait and watch.”

“Okay, don’t be so dull-headed, Didi. Come, let’s go and have some ice-cream.”

Anjali grabbed Diya’s hands and led her out. For the first time in the entire evening, Diya felt at peace.

*****

2007. It was the year when hi5 and Orkut were becoming popular among the youngsters. The social networking sites were used to connect with friends as well as meet new people. A 17 year old Diya was equally excited to create an account in both sites. Passing out her 12th grade with 94%, she was admitted to Mount Carmel College, one of the prestigious arts colleges of Bangalore. And what more, it was a women’s college! Diya felt at peace that she wouldn’t have to encounter boys thereafter. And, of course, she took up B.A English Literature. She successfully made new friends in her college, yet maintained her close friendship with Mahima, who had taken up B.Com in the same college. Also, Diya went in for a makeover and changed her dressing style. The kurti clad girl changed into a modern diva with the introduction of t-shirts, tops, denims, jeans, casual shirts, knee-length skirts, shorts, and capris. She also opted for contact lens instead of wearing spectacles. On the whole, she looked damn gorgeous in her new avatar. Soon, she became popular in the campus circuit for her flawless English and her heartwarming write-ups. She also occasionally journeyed into poetry and published a few poems for a local literary magazine.

The ‘famous’ tag came with the pressure of being active in social media. Hence, she ventured into exploring hi5 and Orkut. She liked the latter more than the former. She also began sharing her writings in her Orkut scrapbook which went viral among her friends and friends of friends. It was then that she met someone whom she thought was obsolete from her life. It was Karan! The guy who broke her heart when she was in the most vulnerable period of her life. Though she tried to ignore his friend request in Orkut, she couldn’t keep away for long. Karan never gave up. He sent a request daily, even after knowing that Diya was ignoring them. Similar to Diya, he was also a changed person. His appearance was like a film star and any girl would go weak on her knees. He had magnetic eyes, attractive stubble of beard and fluffy hair. He was also of the notion that since he looked like a model, girls would easily accept his friend requests. But Diya wasn’t someone who would budge at the drop of a hat. Only after persistent requests and scrapbook messages did she accept him as her friend.

Even after accepting his request, she never chatted with him. Though she had a mild desire to initiate a talk with him and know about his life, her ego prevented her from doing any such thing. Days later, Karan sent her a message.

Karan Patel: Hi, Diya, do you remember me?

Diya Rai: Yes, of course. How would I forget you?

Karan Patel: Does that mean you’re still burning with rage?

Diya Rai: Sheesh! Not at all. I have forgotten all those long back.