That`s Ok!

I was not sure if I could drive for the complete night on Highway. However. I was very happy that I will be driving along with Druvaa for 600 KM. And after a long time, we would be chatting with each other and our good old memorable days of college would come to life. I just reached Druvaa`s home and he was ready waiting for me. Druvaa was closing the gate and waved at me. As soon as he opened the car door, “Sorry Druvaa just had to finish few things at office and got delayed.” Druvaa replied, “That`s ok! Ajay”. That is what he says all the time. We started our journey to Bangalore to attend Druvaa`s Cousin`s wedding. It usually takes me 9 hours from Hyderabad to Bangalore driving at an optimum speed.

We started talking about our job, family, weather, roads, infrastructure,…… covering almost ¼ of the distance. We took a halt at a Dhaba and enjoyed anda-bhurji, Dal-tadka and Tandoori Roties. We started from Dhaba immediately and were updating each other about our college friends and this became more interesting topic as it was almost eight years after our college. Suddenly Druvaa said, “I met Oont last week he recently bought a home and invited me. Shall we plan to go next week”. We had nick names in college, my name was Pareeshan as I was always confused, Druvaa was Charan Das due to his walking style like Anil Kapoor in a movie Chameli ki shadhi and Subbu`s nick name was Oont (Camel).

Subbu used to make fun of Druvaa calling him short fellow. Drvaa was 170 cm and Subbu was 172 cm tall. So, the difference of 2 cm made him taller and he got the name Oont.

I had stopped talking to Subbu at the end of our college days. All those incidences starting flashing in front of me. 

We were in our college canteen and were making fun of each other. I was a lean guy with old fashion spectacles that made my look studious which I was not and Druvaa was a good-looking guy with big mustaches, he never agreed that he was good looking and always had a complex that he cannot impress girls. Subbu always lived in Bollywood ki duniyaa feeling he was a hero desperately waiting to meet his heroine. We used to make lot of fun and specially my target was always Subbu, I used to pull his leg a lot. We were about the leave the canteen and the boy who came to take the soiled plates and said,"Anna warden is here". We were not sure what to reply, Druvaa had an answer, he said, "thats ok!" we started walking towards our rooms. I saw Subbu staring at Sakshi. I was a bit surprise. As soon as we reach our room. I asked Subbu why were you staring at her. He said, “ I think I admire her and you know her father adopted an orphan and they are a great family.” I said, "Her parents are great! they adopted. She may or may be happy with their decision. how can you say she is great!" Subbu shouted, "you will never understand." And to divert the topic Druvaa said, "that`s ok!". There were lot of rumors regarding Sakshi as her ex-boyfriend, one of our senior never contacted her after he left college. Sakshi was a pretty girl, very calm and always seen reading. Everyone in our college had a secret crush on her.

After few days, I saw Subbu sitting next to Sakshi in our canteen. When we returned to our room, I was curious to know and asked Subbu what’s the matter why are you moving close to her. He replied, she is just a friend. Now it became his daily routine to talk about her all the time and when asked, he used to say they are just friends.

Druvaa went to his home for his cousin`s wedding. I was feeling left alone as Subbu was mostly busy moving around with Sakshi. I was walking towards our hostel along with Raghu. He asked me why is Subbu always with that girl. She plays with emotions; do you know how our senior was troubled by her. A soon as I reached room, as Druvaa and Subbu were not around. I just went to the next room. Nilesh, Roop and Paras were busy discussing about a movie. As soon as I entered and after hi, hello. They continued their discussion. As I have not watched that movie, Paras started narrating sequence of the thriller movie. They passed me the packet of Bhujia. Roop went to the hotel kitchen and bought tea. The movie narration continued with tea and snacks. We were having a good time. After the story finished. Nilesh started, “Hey! Ajay why don’t you discuss with Subbu.”

I said why what happened. Roop said, “Why he is always around Sakshi”. I replied, “that’s his decision. Why I should have a problem.” Nilesh, “How can you say that, he is your dearest friend and if you don’t then who will guide him.” Nilesh, Paras and Roop continued the brain wash session for a couple of hours, slowly they stared influencing me.

I came back to my room and Subbu was reading. As soon as he saw me. he said, “Ajay! I got a letter today and you know from whom, its Sakshi”. I replied him, “I don’t know what is happening with you. Don’t you think that girl is not worth of your friendship.” He got pissed off. “Ajay, she has a name and you know her name. don’t ever say that girl. I know her and you don’t.” I replied” I am unable to answer to all, they are asking me why I am not taking care of you and allowing you to be with her. I want you to stop all this.” He was very upset and said, “I don’t know what is wrong with you. You are my friend and you listen to them. You believe what they say is truth. You need not try to become my father and instead I expect you to be my friend. If you were, then you should have questioned them, not me and have stood by my side.” He started packing his thing and I just kept silent. He left our hostel and started living as paying guest. And after that incident we never spoke to each other.

We stopped again at a Dhaba for tea, as we were about to sip. I asked Druvaa, “How is he?”. He replied, “he is happily married, good job, a son and a daughter. And do you know who the girl is? It`s Sakshi and believe me whatever you heard at college is not true. She left her job to take care of Subbu`s aging mom. I said, ” Oh! I know he married Sakhsi, Roop forwarded me the email wedding invitation. See he never send it to me.” Druvaa continued, “how would you expect him to call you. When you have messed it up. And one more thing, if you remember Subbu used to talk about social responsibilities. You can never imagine, they adopted an orphan girl. Sakshi takes care of her more than their son.” Tears started rolling from my eye. Dhruvaa came close to me and gave me a hug and said, Thats ok!". He dialed his mobile, looked at me and said, “Subbu, take it” I took the mobile and said, hello Oont”, he replied, “bol bay Pareeshan, are you confused now.”I said,”No, now everything is clear, I am really sorry. I hope you can forgive me,” He replied,” I am always there with you, I was waiting for you to get back and understand me and it did not happen. I was waiting all this time for this day! I am in Bangalore now and it`s not Druvaa`s cousin`s wedding. We both have planned to meet here and celebrate friendship day! Come fast I am waiting for you both.” I gave the mobile to Druvaa and said sorry to him. He replied, that`s ok!