Sensational Internship

As all the other days, I was sitting at the cafe with Rahul, Tarun, Sulekha and Aditya during the break. I used to think earlier that exercising as an intern was gratifying, but only when it comes to facing the real shit, does one actualize how peculiar a particular thing can be. Break was the only time, the five of us used to look forward to. It has been a fortnight since we joined the Nexus Venture Partners as interns, only to work on a project which was to be submitted as a part of our curriculum at our post graduation.

Both Sulekha and Rahul were from Pune, and Tarun, Aditya and I, Parul, were from the locality itself, Mumbai. Our hometowns were different though. Tarun was a mirthful Mumbaikar, Aditya was a muddled Manipuri and I was an intellectual Indori.

This was our final year of post graduation and to accomplish our live projects we had to do this shitty internship job. Well! As I mull over, Nexus is not a way too bad company to be an intern in. It is after all, one of the renowned companies in India and moreover, all I desired to go ahead in my future was entrepreneurship, which was what we all were acquiring here.

It was still 10 minutes left for the break to end and Rahul and Sulekha stood up to leave. They had that extra work to do. They always had. After the first few days, when we started together, they left us and went towards the other end of the edifice we worked in. I thought to spy them one day. I did. And what bullshit, they were smooching each other under a tree, nobody besieged them. Ah! Clear from then on, they were a typical girlfriend- boyfriend material. But anyways, Sulekha was cute. She was adorable. She was sweet as well; the reason why probably Rahul fell for her. Rahul was handsome too nonetheless.

When they left, I leaned forward to break this news to Tarun and Aditya; my then best friends. It has been about 7 days since I have been trying to digest this news, but no, no-more! I had to tell them, after-all even we needed some gossip. Didn’t we? So, I finally broke the news to them... Aditya, the fatso who was drinking water spilled it from his mouth on Tarun who was sitting across him at the table. Eeww! Weird!!

“But I like her yaar... No! You are saying this to tease me. Isn’t it?”, said Aditya, facing his fat, spectacular face towards me.

Looking at his grave expressions for a few moments, I and Tarun sat quite and then giving a ‘Hi-Five’ to each other we started laughing our ass out.

“Damn! Aditya... Since when? And you never even mentioned it??? You are such a hypocrite!” and I and Tarun couldn’t just stop laughing.

Looking at us, a boy started towards us, almost our age, 23; or maybe a year or two older... “Would you mind if I sit here with you people?”

Our expressions turned solemn. What the heck? One break of 50 minutes and somebody comes and wants to enjoy with us... Do we appear like fucking clowns?

“Yeah sure!” said Tarun invitingly and I gave him that cold look. I hated it. Tarun was always very inviting. This chap from Mumbai, at times I don’t know but what happens to him, he was such an easy going guy, happy with everybody.

It was still 5 minutes for the break to get over. We introduced ourselves to each-other.

“Hi, I am Tarun, he is Aditya and she is Parul”, said Tarun “And you are?”, he questioned.

“I am Raghav. Raghav Verma.” He said with a big grin. On his square face, with his hair coming half-way till his fore head, he appeared to me like a cute boy. But, he wasted our 5 minutes of fun and fervour. No, he was not cute, he was a pervert. Huh! I hated him for this and so did Aditya... I knew, from his expressions; he wanted to talk about Sulekha.

Anyways, he inquired about what were we doing and Tarun replied generously “we are interns at the Nexus.” I finally pinched Tarun and indicated my watch to him. He understood it was time to go. If we got even a minute late, we would be given a good piece of our manager’s mind.

We stood up, shook hands... he gazed me a little longer than required. Do hell with it, every girl things the same I guess. I skipped that part... and then we started back towards our magnificent Nexus edifice.

The day went off good, a little refreshing actually with fatso Aadi, poking his nose again and again and talking about Sulekha stealthily. I and Tarun couldn’t help but laughing at that site. Sulekha used to sit parallel to me; sharing the same cubicle. So, now it made sense as to why Aadi always wanted to come to see me and take my help in one thing or the other. I never thought the reason was Sulekha. Boys will be boys!

The day ended and we started our journey towards our flats. Tarun and Aditya used to stay together; Tarun’s parents shifted abroad last month but he insisted to stay here. He did. I used to stay with yet another girl, who was out of my interpretation! She was always bewildered. Damn creepy! Our flats were just a block away and so I decided to go with Tarun and Aadi first before I leave for my room. Aditya was sober, he bought a bottle of whisky on our way back to our flat and as soon as we entered the room he opened it and gulped it all in one shot.

Thereafter began his sadist tale, “I have loved only 7 girls till date. I have really loved them a lot... but I was never able to speak it in front of anybody. I have always been this shy type guy and Sulekha... Damn! I dreamt of being with her forever after our internship and all of a sudden Parul comes and says she is committed! God, tell me what should I do? I cannot live without her....”

Both Tarun and I had our tummies rolling. We weren’t able to control our laughter and this, this Bollywoodish melodramatic scene... wasn’t it getting a little too much? And wait, what he just said... he has loved 7 girls. SEVEN! Oh god! Help him.

Out of making Aadi a little placid, we planned to go to the Marine Drive, which was at a distance of about 15 kilometres from our place. We reached there at 10 P.M. We walked the 3 kilometre long Marine Drive bare foot, enjoying the wet sand beneath our feet. Not in a mood to go back, we forced ourselves back, since the next day we all had a presentation of our project and we had to work on it as well.

We reached our rooms back by 2 in the morning, turned on skype, worked on our presentations till 5 A.M and then Tarun and Aditya went off. I didn’t sleep. I instead went to do some household work, including filling water, preparing some good breakfast for everybody and then obviously getting ready. I gave a call to Tarun at 8, asking him to wake up and get ready else we’ll be late. But fatso, damn, he was such a sloppy guy, he woke up at 10 minutes to 9, came running to my room with his shirt half tucked in and ate the breakfast without brushing his teeths... eeww! The last night’s whisky still smelt, I sprayed my deodorant all over him and gave him my comb to set his hair. The last thing he asked before we were leaving my room for the office was “Am I looking all good? Sulekha would be impressed? Right?” and I and Tarun pat our foreheads in disbelief.

All the way towards our office, he kept pestering us with Sulekha, Sulekha and Sulekha. We were late by 30 minutes and expected a good blow from our manager when suddenly Raghav stepped forward to greet us.

With a big grin he said “Hi! I am your team lead. I hope you people remember me. We met yesterday.” Oh damn! So he was our team lead who was off to Pune for a project and he is back now. We all smiled sheepishly looking at him. It would be easier to go around now.

As soon as the thought of going around casually crossed my mind, he screamed “So, is this the time you people come to the office?” and that meant, we were still under the same hanging knife. And that aloes made sure that the last day when we were laughing like devils... we had imprinted a bad impression on Raghav.

With this alarming start, we all gave our presentations to Raghav. He suggested us ways by which we could work a little better. We appreciated his reviews and started working accordingly. He was though not a good leader. He was a spectator and he was harsh. He was vicious. Our job (9-to-9 life) was yet to commence and our internship experience was gruelling enough. What would happen when we’d be out, work on full time basis?

With varied unusual thoughts, we went back on our desks and gave a fresh start to our work. After about 15 minutes, the peon came to me and left a packet on my desk. I looked at him in wonderment but he went away without saying anything. I looked around; there was nobody around me either, waiting for me to open the envelope. So, out of my own excitement I opened it. It had a greeting card saying “You are my sweet-heart!” and a note attached to it which read “Wish to see you tonight at 24X7 night club at 8 P.M.... your only well wisher and lover.”

I was stunned, astonished; who could this be? Is it somebody in my office? Whom should I tell this to? Aditya was just coming around me to catch a glimpse of Sulekha, when he saw the envelope in my hand. He snatched it from me. I tried to get it back, but, he won’t’ give it to me. Instead, he went to Tarun and there he opened it. I was following him, but I got late by a few seconds. Seconds matter in such cases. Both Tarun and Aditya were awed.

“Miss Parul, who is it? Secret admirer... hmmmm??” they started teasing me.

“I don’t know!” I said politely, with a blush on my face.

They caught that girlish shy on my face and started calling out names. Frustrated, I went back to my cubicle. I sat there for a few moments and then turned back at the cubicle behind me, to see Tarun and Aditya; they were composed, and looking at me started laughing again. I smiled and went back to their cubicle. I finally said “Guys really, I don’t know anything. What should I do? Suggest me.”

Tarun said at one shot, “Dump the idea girl. Not good for you.”

When suddenly fatso jabbed a plan “Let’s go out yaar... Let’s check on who is he atleast. What say? Tonight at 9, 24X7, we’ll all go and Parul we’ll hide ourselves somewhere. You meet that guy and then we’ll give him a good punch and return back.”

The idea seemed interesting. I was this type of rough and tough girl and hated all such girly crap of sitting and crying, “oh my god! What must I do?”

I put forward my hand in agreement on Aadi’s plan. Tarun did too. And fatso grimaced as if he’s done such a tough task by puking this idea in-front of us. I gave him a kick and he smiled and put his hand on Tarun’s. Our mission for the day was set; an adventurous day after lot many boring days.

When I was about to leave their cubicle, Aditya said from behind “Parul, invite Sulekha too” and I gave a smile to him. He said “You would. Won’t you?” and I shook my head in agreement. He knew I won’t.

I went back to my cubicle, muttering to myself in disguise. I looked at Sulekha, she was glued to her computer screen. I didn’t disturb her. I only thought about the evening that was to come. We all decided to meet at 8 at ‘24X7’ to have some fun before our mission starts and hell yeah! It was Saturday night. We wanted some fun. We were indeed surprised to see Raghav there with the dancer on the floor. He appeared to be such a sex freak. We took his pictures for keeping with us as his good record. To our amazement, we spotted Sulekha with Rahul too There were limited to themselves. Aditya looked towards them, and finally decided to overcome his infatuation. He sat at the bar and started drinking... 5 shots in a row. It was just about 15 minutes left to 9 when both Tarun and Aditya deserted themselves in the crowd. I was left alone. I waited at the bar for my lover to come and greet me.

Five minutes later, I had this somebody, touch my back. I turned back to give him a tight slap. I did. And oh no! Raghav. It was Raghav Verma. Out of regret I said “I’m so sorry. But, you....”

“Well! It’s okay Parul. I understand... but, I just recognized you so came to greet you.”

I smiled. He offered me a drink, but I was a teetotaller. I refused with great dignity. We were just laughing over some joke when Tarun and Aditya came by. Aditya was about to give a good punch in Raghav when I stopped him. I shouted “Noooooooo... It’s Raghav man!” But it was a little too late.

With this, Raghav looking back in astonishment, I received a call on my phone. To answer the call, I had to walk out as it was loud inside. Aditya and Tarun started running towards the door too. As soon as I stepped out; I saw somebody standing at the door, with this big bouquet of flowers; his face hidden behind it.

My phone was still ringing. I picked it up; on the phone he said “Accept it. I love you darling! I missed you hell lot.” And the phone cut, he lowered the bouquet to reveal his face. Yess.... it was Sid. My childhood friend! It was just during our post graduation that we were separated for the first time. I had a liking for him since age eleven. I hugged him tight and rejoiced. I knew he loved me, but it only took too long for him to state it.  Stupid!

But wait, Raghav and Aadi... Aditya and Tarun came yelling outside... “Run Parul. Let’s go!”

I finally knew that I’ll be facing the most adventurous internship lined up till date and wait; we also had photographs of that sycophant with us! Wink.

We were meant to be together

And with the eloquent speech by the managing director of our college, the get together which was arranged for the alumni of engineering, 2011 batch came to an end. We were requested to enjoy the dinner.

Light music satiated the evening. I was attending the alumni party with one of my close friend and group mate Aarti. Looking around, I could had seen people still greeting and hugging each other and obviously clicking photographs which were to be uploaded on facebook for a week long discussion on the party and for storing as fond memories as well.

I was happy, content and very much enjoying the evening until someone put his hand on my shoulder. I discerned his touch in just some split seconds. Yes, it was none other but Atharv himself; my love, my life until a year back. Every time I looked back at my college life I had nothing else to think but Atharv. We weren’t just best going-around buddies, best friends but soul-mates as well. 

I turned around to look at him; anticipating no new face but his own. It had been a year since we saw each other. He was still the same- tall, lean and with the same hairstyle I liked.

Looking at him, I reminisced all the time I’ve ever spent with him, lived with him. Our long drives; making love at extraordinary exotic places including the farmlands which were situated at a distance of about 50 kms from the campus, his farmhouse; those silly, innocent yet nifty fights out of possessiveness... looking into his eyes, I could had still felt the same love reverting to me, nabbing me.

Breaking the silence he said “Hey Arushi! How have you been?”, his voice still the same, strong and meek. I could see that gleam in his eyes for having spotted me.

“I’m good. How about you?” I said; forcing a smile on my face as I remembered the time, a year back when I broke up with him. All these 12 months has been a tough time to live without him, without my life (as he was) who was all mine a year back, all throughout our graduation.

“I’m good too! And by the way, congratulations for your book launch.” he said.

“Thank you Atharv!” and with this, I knew if we were into a relation yet, we would had kissed each-other and celebrated our felicity.

“How is your preparation going on?” I continued to keep the conversation alive. He was preparing for the civil service examination since he was never interested to be a part of his family business.

“Everything’s going on fine!” he said with a little unease.

Understanding his malaise, I excused us from Aarti and asked Atharv if we could chat while we walk around the place? He agreed.

We walked silently; walked past all the whooping eyes which were glued at us. They all smiled in return to my gaze, wishing for us to be together, forever. And with this I re-called the day- 14 February, 2008; the day when I and Atharv participated in the “Find your Soul-Mate” competition, organized at a pub by all our batch-mates, and how after winning, that same evening Atharv proposed me. I was excited, nervous, happy, didn’t knew what to do, say, express but appreciated his feelings and being a best friend, without offending him, I gave in my consent and then we had gone for a long walk holding each-other’s hand.

I was brought back from my world of memories when Atharv held my hand in his again. We had reached near the parking by then. The guard who sat outside looked with inquisitive eyes at us. I took my hand away, though I wished we could have remained.

Atharv looked around and knew why I did so. He said “Shall we go out? I certainly hope you are not interested to stay here anymore.”

I looked at him with questioning eyes. He knew I was about to deny him; when he said “Come, I’ll show you my new office, just about 30 kms from this place. Won’t you come with me? I have lots of things to tell you all the way along...” and I was still quizzical thinking what to do, when he held my hand again and said “As a best friend, for the sake of relation we shared”, and I didn’t had words to say anything further. My tongue was tied so I gave my consent by shaking my head in agreement.

We walked out of the hotel garden where the party was still set at peak, since food is what everybody relishes till the last bite. This escape reminded me of how we had often scarpered the various dinners of our college annual fest/ functions after the anchoring sessions just to catch hold of each other, more closely, for a few more moments, to create a few more memories that would last with us forever.

I got inside his car which was parked just adjacent to the gate; with all the excitement rolling back to me, with every passing moment. When I sat inside, I glanced at his hands, which were busy searching for the keys and there they were, bunched in the same key chain I gifted him on the last day of the college, on our graduation day; as a token to remember me.

When I looked back at my life, I still think as to what went so wrong between us? I had been in a relation with Atharv for past 4 years until 2011; I had many other crushes while being with him but he was always strong enough to let me stay. Then what happened the last time? Things started changing when I met Sameer about 3 months before our graduation day. He was then a post graduate intern at the Stanford University and accidently happened to send me an inquiry relating to a workshop I organized in college. His hometown was Delhi too, which only added to the familiarity between us.

The first time I was talking to Sameer, we almost chatted for about 5 hours; breaking all the time barriers; I liked the way he talked, it was inviting, flirtatious and peculiar. Soon after, I started realizing that Atharv wasn’t giving me just enough time, since he was busy preparing for his civil examinations. I had though complained about this earlier to him, but then I knew that he was doing this for his good, for our good as well. But somehow, conversations between me and Sameer increased. With each passing day we started hooking up more to each other. I told Atharv about Sameer, but somewhere he knew that as all the past times, I’ll not be pretty serious so as to taking a decision of leaving him forever.

All this way along, after about a month I came in contact with Aarti, who was off for her internship at Microsoft, Bangaluru. It had been two months I was staying alone on my flat. I was glad she returned back. I missed her and all our girly gossips. As soon as she returned, we started telling each other about what happened over the past two months. On the reference of Sameer, she got a little sceptical and further took the responsibility to explicate me what I had been ignoring for about past 3 years while being with Atharv. Yes, Atharv was everything to me, until that night when I forced myself to take a rigid decision against him. Both Atharv and I belonged to different caste and well I had a very religious family and going against them was what I was not ready for. It isn’t that I and Atharv had never discussed on this issue but somehow all of it seemed lame that night, all the reasons that I and Atharv had planned seemed feeble. I began ignoring Atharv from that day onwards. To keep myself busy and to keep him off my mind; I began talking to Sameer more than often. Finally, on the last day of our college, I broke out on Atharv demanding a break up. He had been expecting all this too lately, but I know that he always thought, he’ll handle me well... as always.

Still effete to take it all, he asked if Sameer proposed me. How on Earth could Atharv have thought about my, indulging myself into yet another relation and this being the reason to leave him? I explained everything to him very clearly, he insisted me to stay saying that together we’ll work out everything, but I wasn’t ready to go along this way anymore. For the following month, I started avoiding his calls, texts and saw him only twice. All he always explained me was- that if ever I change my mind, he would always be there and with tears in my eyes I always gave one answer, “I would never come back to you now!”.

Meanwhile, I told Sameer about Atharv, and well he had no issues. We used to discuss almost everything and I liked the way I was not bound to him; though it was 4 months we had been talking to each other and not yet even defined our friendship, but talking to him was fun. When he came down to Delhi for his vacations, we would meet almost every second day. It was a little strange but we liked it that way.

Once Atharv spotted me and Sameer together at the Central Mall and called me to take out his frustration. There was no use explaining anything to him but still I took the pain to make him understand that we were just going around and nothing else. Atharv broke down and said that he still longs for me. The problem between us was that we were still loyal to each other, we were truthful to each other and nobody ever committed such a mistake so as to hate him/ her for a lifetime. Moreover, Atharv always accepted me with all my mistakes I ever did. I knew deep within that I would never be able to find another one just like him. I knew deep inside, wherever I go, whoever I meet, Atharv would always stay in my heart and he is the only one who loves me more than anything else in this world and more than anybody else. But, since that day, we did not contact each other.

The 20 minute ride to Atharv’s office seemed eternity. We didn’t spoke to each other. We just sat in silence with our hands together. Oh hell! What did I say... I didn’t even realised our hands were intermingled, lost in my thoughts about him; I almost paid no heed to this. His touch has always been the most comforting one. When I finally looked down upon our hands and then towards him, he gave me a shrewd look; Atharv was still the same! How many times I told him to fall in love with somebody else to forget me, but he would stay for me forever and that detested me ever more.

We reached his office, situated on the 4^th floor of the galaxy plaza. There were people still working there, they all stood up as he entered. I was not able to understand as to what was happening, I only followed him in silence until towards the end of the corridor we reached a door with the nameplate ‘Atharv Agrawal’ printed in embossed gold on a silver metal plate.

He opened the door and stood behind it, with the door held open for me to enter. I entered. The cabin which bearded the nameplate of Atharv Agrawal as the ‘Country Head’ surprised me. I looked around that four walled cabin which was beautifully contrived. That meant, Atharv had finally decided to go ahead in his family business and the best part was, he has made it happen; he has marked his father’s empire oversees.

With quite admiration, while I was busy looking at all the certificates, photographs on the wall next to his desk, I didn’t realize that he was still gazing at me. When I turned to look at him, I was taken aback. He was standing just behind me, close enough to feel our breathes. He took both my hands in his, when suddenly he realized something strange. He looked inquiringly towards my hands...

“When did it happen Arushi?”, he said with disdain. Yes! I was engaged.

“Last month”, I replied. He took a step back, not defying asking the next question. But, regaining his courage, he continued “Who is it?” and I knew, I was going to kill him with the answer then and there. I wished I could have eluded this part somehow, but no, there was no option.

And I replied “Sameer!” and he almost lost his senses. He sat on the chair kept adjacent to the wall, near his desk, one of his hands on the table. I looked at him, at his hand which was into mine a few moments ago... and I couldn’t have believed it, on the table was a photo frame with my photograph. He still loved me; he still wanted me in his life.

“But you said you and Sameer were just going around? You cheated on me, didn’t you?” he said out of wrath.

“No Atharv, I didn’t! It just happened and I couldn’t have helped it... He loves me a lot too” and I broke his heart again. Tears started rolling down our cheeks, for in some sense we both were hurt. I couldn’t have seen my best friend cry and I repented for having selected Sameer as my life partner. After I got published, I had that right to stand before my parents and demand for my wishes, for my life, the way I wanted to. Though I loved Atharv more than anything but Sameer was then my present and getting hold of Atharv after a year seemed foolish. In all, now, it was too late to get back to him.

I continued “Atharv, I am sorry. I never knew you still expected me. For the past one year, I thought you were....”

“Busy??? Busy for you? Damn Arushi... I was busy setting this all up for you, for us to be together. How could you do this?”, and I had no answer.

He stood up and started moving towards me. He knew there was still a side inside me which wanted him to be mine, which loved him. He moved closer and I took a few steps back until I was leaning the wall and until he was close enough to feel my hot breathes on his face, close enough to brush past his lips on mine. He asked me “Do you still love me?”

I knew Atharv was ready to forgive me, and with the love screaming out loud all the evening since I saw him, I couldn’t had helped but say “Yes. I do.” And with this, he started kissing me.

“But, I and Sameer....”

“We’ll work it our Arushi. I want you to be mine, which is all I know. I can’t share you with anybody, anymore” and with this, I kissed him back.

I finally knew that my life was all mine again and that his love has always been strong enough to stay.