Pass And Aggregate Chapter 6:Inevitable Split

Chapter 6: Inevitable Split

Friends who took a back seat in past few days were now in forefront. After exams got over, I was relaxed albeit for few days, now I had to look for CA coaching again, exams were only six months away. My hunt for coaching got me to the market of CA coaching, as I was not satisfied with my coaching at the last stage, I cannot take chance this time, I thought. I went to Lakshmi Nagar, the hub of CA aspirants. For those cannot understand what Mukherjee Nagar is to IAS aspirants, Laksmi Nagar is to CA Aspirants. It is a Mecca for all those want to get through. The biggest tragedy of CA course is that we have no regular class and we need coaching to clear our exams. All though there is a small minority who can boast of never attending coaching class but that minority can be counted on the finger tips.

Arriving at Laksmi Nagar, I analyzed that the number of coaching classes were probably more than the number of serious candidates. It was a crowded place; being there I sensed that it was some kind of fair. All over the walls, there were posters and paints indicating the coaching class. They all boasted of the best faculty, they had some different techniques for various subjects, they were ready to offer discounts for the whole group, and even larger discount for two groups and on and on and on. CA coaching is different from other competitive exams, they are not like the Engineering coachings where one had to give exam just to gain admission, all they needed was money. To me all the classes appeared the same, so I decided to go in a class which had the best infrastructure and was on the main road. It was called ‘Be Best CA’ Coaching class, (name was funny). The lady at the desk was polite, she gave me the form and asked me to attend few mock lectures after which we can submit the fees, and it made great business sense to me. ‘Like it or leave it’ was the funda. I was happy, coaching was fixed and now I had to go to my meet my lady love.

It was Shruti’s Birthday, I dare ask her age, actually those are bad manners as I am being told by my sister and for this I trust her. To me it hardly matters whether she was 60 or 16, I loved her. I got a gift for her after saving my pocket money for three months. She invited me to Nirulas, where she would celebrate the birthday with her group of friends (whom I despised the most) and me (whom she loved, I though so).

I was wearing the jacket my dad got for me when he visited Singapore on official visit; I thought that it was best I had in my wardrobe. Shruti was brand and place conscious, and would be happy see me wearing something from Singapore. I reached at the exact time; basically my dad has inculcated a very good habit in both me and Akshaya to respect other’s time. Earlier I found it really funny to be on time, I mean when I was young and dad asked to go to birthday parties on the invited time I would often be the only one who would turn up. Once when I reached a friend’s party at the right time, there were no arrangements and how so ever funny it might sound I helped my friend in decoration and other arrangements. But that was earlier; I now was on time, whenever or wherever I was called for. I hate when people think themselves as classy when they come late. Shruti was late by an hour and a half, I was really aghast by her late coming and the announcing that she was just fashionably late. By the time Shruti and her gang of friends arrived, I had eaten three ice creams as I was sitting there all alone, doing nothing but waiting.

I thought of shouting at her, at least she could have called me, now that even I had a mobile but it was her birthday and I somehow controlled myself. Shruti was looking gorgeous as ever, she was looking like the Barbie doll which my sister had. Even though I never liked the Barbie, I often removed her head or threw it somewhere but Shruti was my princess.

When she entered, all my complaints had vanished completely. All I could see was her pretty face. I gave her the gift, a ceremonial peck on her cheek. She pushed me away; I thought may be she was embarrassed. But why she would be embarrassed, all her friends knew me and everything about our relationship, I thought. Then I saw a very handsome guy who though was never in her group but was at the party. I thought he was Shruti’s brother and in any ordinary circumstances any girl would not like to be kissed by someone when her brother is around. I was sure even Akshaya would not appreciate some one’s attention when I am around.

But I was wrong; he was Pranav, Shruti’s ex boy friend. Shruti once mentioned about him. I don’t know why but I was in the grip of jealousy now, I wondered what was he doing at the party after he and Shruti had such a messy break up. While we were having our share of cake, he was getting to cozy with Shruti. I started feeling uncomfortable, while I was about to ask Shruti to come and sit near me I realized even she was flirting with him, and enjoying his attention. I was crying inside and my throat was chocking at every passing second. To my amazement Shruti kissed Pranav in full public view, I was shattered. My heart broke. I tried to recover manfully, but in vain. I got up from there and just came out; to me the whole place was suffocating, I stood on the pavement; I thought may be Shruti would come out, but all I could hear was laughing and giggling. To them I was a laughing stock. Shruti never came out.

Though I was agitated and angry I had tears flowing down, I know it is not a man like way of handling disasters of their love life, we usually are expected to sulk but I could not resist. I wish the song ‘Why this Kolaveri di’ was there at that time because all my feelings were the same. The distance form CP to my house seemed interminable. Everything seemed surreal and strange. My heart was broken and I could hear it shatter into tiny pieces. My life from Eastman Color transformed into sepia tone. I was lost for want of words. I was emotionless, all my sensibilities and feelings went numb. Alas! “Adversity, thy name woman”

I came back home, at night I messaged her to ask what transpired between us but all she replied “Can’t you see writing on the wall?”, and I never got the answer.