Diya Rai – Game of Serendipity 1

“God! I haven’t seen so many likes, comments and shares in my life.” Diya thundered, while looking at her listicle 14 Interesting Facts about Mushrooms in ScoopWhoop. Since mushrooms were her life, she had decided to pen a listicle on them. And voila! The article turned viral within a few minutes. Probably people weren’t completely aware of what mushrooms could do to them. So, when they learnt that there was something more to the delicious fungi, they began sharing it to the entire world.

“Nargis Fakhri, Aditi Rao Hydari and Tiger Shroff have also liked on the listicle. Now this is too much for me!” She exclaimed. Mamta Rai was in that room and she was also pleased with her daughter’s latest hit, despite being cold about her career as a writer.

“This is something to celebrate, Didi. Let’s go and buy some mushrooms. We will whip up some dish out of them.” With those words, Anjali Rai tugged at her sister. They changed their dress and were off to the supermarket. Diya was amused at Anjali’s choice of clothes. The latter was doing her final year in fashion designing and that led to the bizarre designs on her dresses. Though Diya felt them to be too flashy, she didn’t bring it up to Anjali. She was sure that there’d be a row and she’d be scolded for being an immature 25 year old.

Entering the supermarket, they began moving through the shelves to reach the refrigerator at the end. The fridge consisted of all dairy products, juices, flavored milk boxes and mushrooms. Picking up two packets of mushrooms, the girls began inspecting them for decayed ones. Just then, someone tapped on Diya’s shoulder.

“Hey, Diya Rai, right?” The soft and matured voice wafted to Diya’s ears. Immediately she looked up and stared into those doe-shaped eyes. He was looking cheerful and a citrusy odour emanated from his body. Wearing a black-and-white polo t-shirt and navy blue jeans, he almost looked stunning.

“Br..Brian!” Diya exclaimed. Of all the places in the world, she did not expect to meet him in the supermarket.

“Yes, why are you so surprised?”

“No..I mean..I..I didn’t expect you in a supermarket. What are you doing here?”

“Just purchasing some groceries. My apartment is nearby.”

“Ugh? You mean you live in an apartment? When did the hippie turn into a homely man?” She asked mischievously.

“Ha ha! Just like that. I am no more a hippie. I have a home. The world isn’t my home anymore.” His face adopted a pained expression. Immediately Diya regretted asking something that wasn’t meant to be asked.

“I..I am sorry. I don’t want to go into all these now. Okay, tell me, I don’t remember telling you my name on the other day in the fest. That means, you remember me from your lecture in Mount Carmel College, right?” She asked with a slight hope brimming in her voice.

“Oh! No, no. Seriously, I don’t remember you from the college, Diya. I read your listicle today and noticed your name and photo. That’s how I recognized you as Diya Rai.”

“Oh! Okay.” Diya felt disappointed.

“And, this is hilarious. You are coincidentally picking up mushrooms, just after your listicle has went viral.” Brian suppressed a smile.

“Ha ha ha! Actually this is a celebration for the success of my listicle. We decided to whip up some mushroom dish for our lunch. By the way, this is my sister Anjali Rai.”

“Hi Anjali.”

“Hi Brian. You look good.” The words rolled out of Anjali’s mouth. Diya stamped on her left foot intentionally and silenced her. Anjali let out a tiny squeal of pain.

“Thank you.” Brian blushed a little. “Well, nice to meet you both here. I have to go now. There are chores waiting at home. Bye!”

“Bye Brian!” The sisters chorused in unison.

After he left, Diya felt an unexplainable void. This was the first time she was feeling like this. Usually boys drooled over her, made advances towards her, competed for her friendship and even proposed her. But Brian was different. He didn’t even leave a phone number with her or promised to stay in touch with her. He met her just like that, made a small talk, and left. That didn’t go down well with her. Instantly, she was bitten by pride and jealousy. Boys have always treated her like a queen, even though she’d spurned their advances. But in front of Brian, she looked like a pauper. Though secretly she wanted to gain his attention, her ego prevented her from asking his phone number or searching for him in Facebook.

As if Anjali could read her mind, she asked, “Didi, do you feel bad about Brian that he didn’t ask your phone number?”

“Ugh? How did you know?”

“You look crestfallen. Diya has always been someone who is surrounded by guy fans. But Brian’s behavior is different from the rest. He doesn’t flirt, doesn’t make unnecessary promises and doesn’t even tell you whether he’d meet you again. This has really irked you. You aren’t used to such a character. Am I right?”

“Yes, kind of. But, he seems to be a nice guy. I just want to be his friend. He doesn’t take any step towards getting to know me. How can I expect him to be my friend? I was really disappointed when he said that he didn’t recognize me from the college. I was actually his fan girl that day. I loved his lecture on Shakespeare a lot.”

“Hmmm, well, if God wants you both to be friends, he’ll make you meet again. I know that you don’t want to go searching for Brian in Facebook.”

“Yes. And, it’s not difficult to find him. He has read my listicle. So, he might have liked it, commented on it or shared it. Anyway, I am not going to scour my listicle for any action from him. I strongly believe in serendipity, even in this technologically advanced era.”

“Good, Didi. Now, can we pay for the mushrooms and leave? Ma might be wondering what makes us so late.”

“Okieee.” Diya let out a lopsided smile.

*****

Diya was blow drying her hair in the balcony, when something fell upon her. It was a ball of crumpled paper. It looked like someone had intentionally thrown it on her. She looked around for the miscreant, but found no one on the road. She also looked at her neighbor’s house. There was none in sight. As her roving eyes searched for the culprit, she heard a voice that imitated a howling dog. At once, she knew that someone was playing a bad joke on her.

“Who is that?” she hollered.

Yet another howl was heard. Impatiently, she threw the ball of paper back on the road. She watched in surprise, as a hand picked it up. It was a guy. His face and torso were completely hidden behind the compound wall.

“If I come down there, I’ll make sure that you end up dead.” She threatened the impostor. But there was no response. Smirking to herself, she prepared to go down. Just then, someone called out, “Hey Diya!”

Turning around, she saw him and squealed in joy. “Ronnieee!” she screamed out her lungs.

“Diyaaaa!” The noodle-haired skinny boy shrieked back.

“What a surprise! And what’s this childish habit of playing games? Come inside. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Ronnie was Diya’s best friend from her childhood. Even after they’d changed schools, they’d stayed in touch through letters, phone calls and text messages. He was pursuing M.D Cardiology in Delhi. He was a busy bee and never had time to experience the simple joys of life. Hence, it was unlike of him to give surprises to his friends.

Diya opened the door and engulfed him in a hug. He embraced her back and flashed a warm smile to Anjali who was also present in the hall. Mamta and Rohit came from their bedroom and greeted him. After a few minutes of group conversation, they left Diya and Ronnie alone.

“So, how is your life going on? Though I am busy, I don’t forget to read your columns in TOI and listicles in ScoopWhoop. And your recent one about mushrooms was just smashing.”

“Awww! Don’t make me blush, Ronnie. You know, I wouldn’t utter the word ‘thank you’ to you. But still you keep complimenting me.”

“My pleasure, Diya. Okay, other than your professional life, what’s happening in the personal front? Friends? Boyfriends? Marriage ideas?”

“Stop there! Yes, I do have an awesome social life. I have a thick bestie named Mahima. We stick to each other like leeches. Then, I have a few friends from college too, who aren’t as close as Mahima. We just hang out together for fun. And about boyfriends, no, I don’t have any. I mean, as a friend, I have you, Rahul and Smaran. But if you meant as a lover, I don’t have anyone. I don’t wish to fall in love and I don’t want to get married. Seriously, I hate marriage.”

“Oh my god! What is this, Diya? How can you be without getting married?”

“Ronnie! People do exist without getting married. I never expected you to be old-fashioned. Have you forgotten our very own Abdul Kalam? And why can’t I stay as an independent woman?”

“Hey, I am not going into all these ‘independent woman’ and blah blah blah. I just want to know what makes you hate love.”

“There are many reasons for that. Well, I am happy with my parents, sister, friends and job. So, I don’t wanna depend on anyone.”

“This is ridiculous, Diya. Haven’t you ever fallen in love?”

“Yes, once. But that was not love at all. It was just an infatuation at the age of 12.”

“Shit! That cannot be categorized as love. You didn’t love anyone after that?”

“No. That guy spoiled my views about love. He sowed hatred for the emotion called love, that it is forever etched in my heart.”

“So sad! If you’re headstrong about not falling in love, then I cannot help it.”

“But, you know, Ronnie, I have been feeling strange for the past few days. I met someone during my college days. He came as a guest lecturer for a day. He was also a traveller and got paid for travelling. I was so impressed with his lecture on Shakespeare that I had a brief interaction with him at the end of the class. Later, after seven years, I met him a week ago in The Hindu Literature Festival. He didn’t seem to recognize me. That hurt me a lot. I was so full of expectations that I’d strike a friendship with him, but that was not the case. I left him abruptly that day and moved on. I didn’t search for him in Facebook or visit his website or ask his phone number from anyone. Then, day before yesterday, I met him in the supermarket. He recognized my name after reading my listicle and approached me. We just made a casual talk, by which I came to know that he has stopped being a traveller. Even at the end of the conversation, he didn’t show any interest to become my friend. He didn’t give his phone number or promised to stay in touch with me. And now, I am hurt by that, again. Since he is a good guy, I desperately want to be his friend. I don’t want to take the first step. I firmly believe in serendipity, but I have a low-lying fear that he might slip away from my life, forever. Though I can live without him, I strangely feel that he’d be a best friend for a lifetime and missing him would be a great sin. I..I just don’t know what to do.”

Diya turned to look at Ronnie who had his jaw dropped. She hit him playfully and brought him back to senses.

“Wow, Diya! That was one amazing speech. And, who is this guy that has a strong hold on you? You are someone who have never given in to guys. This is so surprising.”

“I am surprised at myself, Brian.”

“Brian? Who is that?”

“Oops! Did I say Brian? Sorry, Ronnie. That is his name.”

“Oh! So, you’ve come to level of confusing names. I think this is heading somewhere, Diya. Hence, you’ve to take the first step in befriending him.”

“No chance! I’ll never do it.”

“What a dork you are!”

“Let I be a dork, but I wouldn’t initiate a friendship with him.”

“Egoistic.”

“Thank you.”

“Stubborn.”

“Thank you.”

“Headstrong.”

“Thank you.”

“Obstinate.”

“Thank you. Now, will you stop this synonym game?”

“Okay, ma’am. Let’s go for lunch.”

But Diya did not respond to him. Her eyes were transfixed on the newspaper on the table. At a small corner of the front page, there was a news. 29 year old guy found unconscious in a roadside platform in Koramangala.

She picked up the newspaper and had a closer look at the photo insert. It was Brian.

**********