A Place Called Perfect!

And sent. Photo uploaded.

Myself Minakshi. 18-year-old teenager. Oops, I mean adult. I guess as an adult, priorities do change. l like everyone else am on Instagram right now.

Like if you are not on Instagram you are an introvert with a lack of social life. This is not me who is saying this, this is the whole world screaming at my face. So under peer pressure, I opened Instagram for the satisfaction of my friends and my boyfriend, Sudhir.

We were dating for the last two years. Even though these two years feel too much, but for me, it’s just like two months, it’s as if I know very little of him. Hands down I don’t even know his father’s name. Hiding a boyfriend and Instagram from an Indian family is a whole ticking bomb situation.

Ping.

I quickly took my phone and removed it from the charger. Uh! This addiction.

I opened Instagram, hoping to find Sudhir’s message but instead got a follower.

Nerdy_Rakesh started following you.

Hmmm. Do I know this guy? Rakesh…who is Rakesh? I started to ponder. I saw in his mutual. There were a lot of Sudhir’s friends and Sudhir himself. Oh, so he is Sudhir’s friend. I accepted the following request.

“Minu….Minakshi…come and have some dinner!” mom called from the kitchen. I wanted to call Sudhir but I guess I can’t resist the aroma of my mom’s food. I put the phone on the charger again and threw myself forward and started to run like a titan from AOT, towards the kitchen.

I came back after having a heavy dinner and as a certified adult, I did the most frightful thing which everyone does after eating their food.

Sit with your family and watch television. No.

Do some exercise and yoga. Nah.

Do something productive. Absolutely not.

Sleep like a sloth. Bingo!

Ping. Ping. Ping.

What the heck? What is this sound? I got up, saliva dripping from my mouth. It’s two at night. I could hear owls hooting by my window and truck drivers riding the roads as if it’s their own.

I saw the notification. Instagram. Bruh!

I opened it just to find hundreds of likes on my recent photo. There I was. Holding a book in my hand and a photo clicked by my younger brother while I am reading it, that turned out to be so aesthetic. A smile erupted on my face. I saw a message from Rakesh too.

Oh, I have read that book. It’s boring!

Are you serious? That’s why he doesn’t have many followers. Rude.

I went into my DMs and saw messages from Rakesh. Oh, this guy!

Then my mood lightened up when I saw a message from Sudhir.

I saw he was online but went offline at once. What?

I read the message. Such a huge damn message.

You were not like how you used to be.

I guess Instagram did change you a lot. 

You are so obsessed with yourself and all you care about is for yourself. 

Your attention on me has been slowly declining.

 And I am getting huge insecurity about it. I guess Shalini was way better than you are.

I don’t think I can get through this. I think we should end it.

Did I just read what I saw on the phone or did my mind just make that up because it’s two at night?

Tears started rolling down my eyes. I hugged my cushion and muffled my voice as I didn’t want Arun, my younger brother, to hear who was sleeping in the same room. I smashed my face on the bed.

What did I do? Is something wrong with me? what did he mean by me being obsessed with myself? I should call him. No, it’s too late. But my hands just went through his contact and pressed the dial button. It didn’t pass through. He blocked me. I tried messaging but still didn’t. I saw his friend had already unfollowed me. He also mentioned his ex, Shalini. How can he break this two-year relationship just like that?!

I threw the cushion down in a fit of anger.

“Are you ok sis?” Arun got up rubbing his eyes.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. I looked at myself. Why did it happen? Is it because of the post that I made? Is it because of likes and comments from other guys? But I always used to call him. Why would he bring Shalini into this? Thoughts started swirling in my head and tears started rolling down to accompanying them.

I wiped my eyes using the T-shirt I was wearing. I opened the door just to find Arun standing outside and looking at me with a sad face which he rarely makes. Guess he read the messages from the phone. Sneaky bastard. I hugged him tightly and he returned it back too. He patted my head as if he is my older brother. I pushed him away.

“You stink,” I said

He slapped at the back of my hand and expected me to chase after him. But he knew I was not in the mood. He lip-synched good night and went to sleep. I too went to bed and saw my phone lying on the floor. I picked it up and opened my Instagram. My followers dropped down. It was expected.

Ping.

Now, who is it?

Hey, have you read this book?

Oh god, this Rakesh. But why is he still following me?

What book?

This book. He sent a pic.

No, I haven’t. And I don’t want to.

Oh! But you should at least give it a chance.

Sorry but I am not into the romance genre.

It doesn’t look like though.

Oh my god! He just didn’t. Why did he have to poke me again? I left his message on seen.

After a month,

“Oh shit, I don’t want to be late!” I ran towards the bus station and thank goodness I was on time. Today was my first day of college. After the vacation, in which many things happened, I left Instagram. My friends don’t talk to me anymore, or you can say my fake friends, and I have started to pay more attention to my family, I guess there has been a bit of improvement.

I saw a seat vacant ahead. I quickly grabbed it.

After a few minutes, I felt bored, so I started reading a book.

“You still read these boring books?” a voice said from beside me.

“excuse me?!’ I was taken aback.

He turned towards me and smiled.

Rakesh.

Such a weird coincidence.

“I wasn’t going to talk but your choice in books is so annoying that I can’t bear it,” he said in a deep breath.

I couldn’t control my laughter and laugh out.

We discussed many things. About what happened with me and Sudhir too. He was really genuine and calm about everything. And was kind of happy that I left Instagram.

“I too left Instagram. It was getting kind of toxic. Then I realized there is a whole world outside that too” hearing him say this gave me confidence.

Every day we met each other and our bond of friendship increased. I don’t care what people think of us when we meet each other and I don’t even want to hear about it. I just feel comfortable around him.

It’s just that we should be able to realize that someone is waiting for us out there. It doesn’t always mean that our soulmate can only be our boyfriend or husband, it can also be a true friend.

Friendship never speaks volumes, it never demands proof, it never demands happy endings too; simply because it doesn’t end as long as friends are true!