It was my 21st birthday and mom kept a small party at home. Most of the invitees were unknown to me as usual except 'Jackass', my buddy Jai. His visit was more than a surprise to me. We never met since he left for Delhi to take admission in St. Stephen's college.
Jai: Hey, how are you man?
Me: Jai, you bloody jackass, where have you been all these days huh?
We kicked, punched and rolled on the floor bursting with laughter like old times were back again.
Jai: So whats up man, whats new?
Me: Nothing, except that the past one year had been a hard time.
Jai: yeah, aunty told me. How are you doing man?
Me:Okay. Just fine. I sighed.
Jai: Come on man, cheer up, its your birthday.
Me: As if that makes any difference.
Jai and I were best mates since school, in fact my only friend whom I could talk to. Unlike me, he was more free and extrovert. He had a charming personality that led to uncountable breakups.
Me:So who is your present one?
Jai: Yeah, my classmate Paridhi. But nothing serious, just had sex once when her parents were not at home and..........
Me: And?
Jai: Well, you know, she wants it to remain like that. No serious relationship and stuff and I find it pretty cool.
Me: Cool huh? Having sex and not being in a relationship is cool? How does that sound?
Jai: Not my fault, she wants it to be like that.
Me: Atleast you are not a virgin now.
Jai: Hey! I just got to set you up with my new neighbour, she is so damn hot. What a pity that I have to leave for Delhi again. Why dont you try a hit, She is nothing like , sort of ....
Me: Stop this erotica of yours.
Jai: Bro, anything serious?
Me: I dont know, I just... I am so confused. Things are happening that had never happened before - it concerns me, and I dont know what to do.
Jai: Calm down man. I know something is bothering you, but will you tell me what is it? Your parents are really worried about you, you can atleast tell me if not them.
I knew Jai was trustworthy and a loyal friend. But I doubted if at all he believes it.
I told him everything, about her, the accident, the trip, the diary- everything.
Me: I know you think that I have gone insane. But that is it I kept to myself since the day I got up from coma.
Jai: Wait, let me get this. I mean this imaginary girlfriend of yours, and then you get up from a coma, realise that she was not real till this its okay. But what happens next , that is an impossible story.
Me: I know, nobody would believe me. Even you dont.
Jai: Man, I believe you. Just show me the diary once, I need to check that out.
I gave him the diary just to see his evident reaction after reading the first few pages.
Jai: Doesnt the diary appear unusually thin, like most of the pages are gone?
He was right, most of the pages were neatly torn from inside, but I never noticed it very carefully.
Jai: Okay, so Sherlock Homes set out on his mission. If we look at the sequence, you dont remember when it all started, I mean your first encounter with her - thats out of story. She keeps telling you to forget her, reminds you of reality. Then comes this psychiatrist who too tells you the same thing, except that she adds to kill her like some character of your story. Which story?
Me: The way you are explaining this can have infinite interpretations.
Jai: Yeah, true.
Me: Dr. Sen, she talked about some text messages which I did not reply to, having lost my mobile that clue is gone.
Jai: Holy crap! Why didnt you tell this to me earlier?
Me: What?
Jai: About this text message, thats an important clue.
Me: Can you retrieve that?
He gave me a hollow look.
Jai: Remember me ass hole, I am jai, the guy who was almost expelled from the school for hacking our school website to declare it a holiday on the day of our maths exam.
Me: Oh yes, I almost forgot about that. Are you sure you can do this?
Jai: Provided you have not deleted your account whatsapp account yet.
The next thirty minutes he was busy with his mobile. I peeped to see his mobile screen, it was full of some programming codes that I never understood so well.
Jai: And there it is.
Me: Oh my God, you did it?
I felt my heart pumping fast when he opened that chat box.
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28th November
Me: Hi doctor. I have considered your advice of going on the trip. I wish things would get better once I start getting acquainted with people.
Dr: Yes there you are. Hope you have a nice trip :)
1st December
Me: Everytime I try to overcome my weaknesses, I fail. Either I dont get people or they dont get me. Today my classmates took me to the jungle and I lost my way. I had no idea how to return but then I met someone, its her. Yes doctor its her, it has been agaes since we met and now, its happening all over again, same place, same season.
Dr: Rick, your friends are merely joking with you, dont take that seriously. And whom have you met, what are you talking about?
2nd December
Me: I dont know why I am telling you this but everything is happening like it was written and I have this perilous feeling that it would soon vanish like a dream. I even doubt- its too beautiful to be true and thats why I want someone to know that this actually happened. I want to keep these milestones marked so that this can help me in future.
Dr: Rick are you okay? You sound too disturbed. I dont know who you are talking about but there is a possibility that you are not living in reality anymore.
ME: Reality or not, I dont care. I am with her and thats all that matters. Its good to live in these destined imaginary moments, thank you doctor for convincing me for this trip.
3rd December
Dr: Rick are you there. See I dont want to create any confusion here, can you send me her picture. (Not replied)
4th December
Dr: Rick are you okay? ( Not replied)
5th December
Dr: Come back home , and pay me a visit. (Not replied)
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We both sat dumbstruck for a moment. My forehead was slowly filling up with sweat.
Jai: This is huge man. What will you do now?
Me: I dont know. I dont have any fucking idea of what this is all about.
Jai: But you have to. I mean this is getting more complicated than you have imagined. And this diary? Damn it. You know what, I think you should tell this to the police.
Me: Police? What will they do?
Jai: What if someone was with you that day? What if she is not your imaginary girlfriend but a real human being, who is perhaps dead now, doesn't that concern you?
I was out of my mind. My head was spinning , as if the entire world started to draw their curtains on my eyes and all I could see was black
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