A Short Story by Vasu Gangapalli

Avinash pulled his window curtain and opened his room’s window and looked out. He placed a cup of milk on the wall, outside his window. A Squirrel ran on the branches of the Gulmohar tree, nearby the window and leaped from the branch and landed on the wall of his window. He started sipping the milk from that cup and soon emptied it. He looked at him, hopped into his room, through the window. He picked the squirrel in his right-hand palm and feed him some groundnuts and rubbed his fury back gently, then placed him back on the wall outside the window. He leaped from the window wall to the branch of the Gulmohar tree and vanished into a hole of that tree.

Avinash was looking out of his window. Suddenly, his eyes got attracted to the window opposite to him, it was the window of the apartments opposite to his, and he saw a beautiful and young girl inside the window. She was combing her hair. She too looked at him directly and then, went in and came out in her balcony. She started watering the plants in the pots of her balcony. Avinash kept looking at her. She stared at his window again. He smiled at her and this time she returned his smile and then went inside. For that moment, he knew that he had fallen in love with her, and it was love at first sight.

So, next morning, he went to the college as usual and came back in the evening. He looked out of his window, at hers. But he couldn’t find her. He became somewhat sad. Suddenly, a cuckoo started singing a song on one of the branches of the Gulmohar tree. He was watching it. When: –

“Well, isn’t she singing well?” said his mother, coming and keeping his cup of coffee, along with a plate of vadas on the table, and looking out of the window.
“Who?” he asked, turning and looking at her.
“Who else? the cuckoo!” said his mother, smiling. “I think she has made her nest on one of the branches of the tree.”
Meantime, the Squirrel raced on the branches of the Gulmohar tree, chased by another and they leaped from the branches, one by one, onto the wall of the window, and looked curiously at him, with their cute little eyes.
“Look! your friend, Govind has brought someone along with him for the treat.” said his mother, teasingly.” Maybe, he is his cousin from the countryside, who has visited his place for summer holidays.”
“Oh, mom.” said Avinash, smiling. “Where is his cup of milk?”
“Well, you drink your cup of coffee. While I’ll go and get his cup of milk.,” said his mother.

He took vada from the plate and made it into small bits and kept outside, on the window wall. They ate it gladly. His mother came and kept a cup of milk outside the window wall. They both drank it and raced back to their hole in the tree. She was watching all this from her window. As he looked at her, she smiled at him and asked him in sign language whether he drank his coffee? He said, yes, in the same way and asked her the same. She replied back. Then she went and watered her plants in the pots kept in her balcony. He came out in his balcony. She waved her hand to him. He waved his hand back to her from his balcony.

“Brother, for whom are you waving your hand like that?” asked his younger sister, Aruna, coming in the balcony.
“No one.” he said. “Oh, to the airplane in the sky.”
“But I see no airplane.” she said, looking up in the sky.
Seeing his sister, she went inside and closed the balcony door.
“Do you expect it to stay as long as you come, see it and wave goodbye?” he said, giving a gentle knock on her head and going inside.

Avinash studied in Degree final year and Aruna in Second year P.U.C. Both fought like Tom & Jerry most of the time. But they liked each other very much. His father was a bank manager and his mother a normal housewife. So, it rained continuously for the next three days. So, she didn’t open her window, nor did she come in her balcony to water her plants in the pots. He used to sit and watch the rain from his window. It filled the ruts of the road. Little boys and girls from the apartments made paper boats and let them sail in those ruts of water. Even his pet friend ‘Govind’ did not come out of his hole to drink his cup of milk near the window.

Then on the fourth day evening, she opened her window and looked at him and asked him in their usual sign language whether he drank his coffee? He replied to her and asked her the same and she replied back.
Someone entered his room; he was Sunjay, his best friend and also his classmate.

“Hi!” he said. “Eh? What a beautiful figure!”
“Sanju, how many a times have I told you to knock before you enter my room?” he said, turning back.” and whom are you talking about?”
“That girl in the balcony!” he said. “Whom else did you think? your friend Govind’s girl friend?”
She looked at them, went inside, and closed her balcony door and then her window.
“So, what brought you here?” asked Avinash, looking at him.
“I came to borrow your economics notes, buddy.,” he said.
“Here take it, but, don’t forget to bring it to the class tomorrow.” he said, handing it to him.
“By the way, who is she?” asked Sunjay, looking at her window.
“Who?” asked Avinash, innocently.
“Come on, man, don’t act too smart!” he said. “Don’t try to hide it from me, your best buddy. What’s her name? what’s she doing?”
“Well, I don’t know her name or even what she does All I know is that she stays in that flat with her parents and her elder brother and I love her very much!” Avinash said.
“You know, someone wise had said that love is blind, and it suits you perfectly!” said Sunjay. “You say, you don’t know her name nor what she does nor anything about her nor do you know whether she loves you or not?”
“But she looks at me every day and smiles and even makes signs at me. What does that mean?’ he asked.
“Hey! Just because she smiles at you and makes passes at you, it doesn’t mean that she loves you.” he said. “Do you like to have my word of advice, buddy?”
“Yes, what is it?” he asked.
“Just forget her!” he said.” I think Arch loves you a lot, man. Go behind her instead. At least you know her well.”
“Well, she is my only my friend. I don’t think anything beyond that and then I can’t tell my heart not to fall in love with this stranger. But with Arch. Can I?” he asked.
“I know…but, still…” he said.
“Ok, now, go.” he said.
“Ok, see you tomorrow in the college, bye.” he said, banging the door behind him.
“Oh, God, he’ll never improve!” he said, with a sigh.
Next day was Valentine’s Day. Avinash was seated on a bench in his college, with his buddy Sunjay and was chatting with him. When Archana approached him. She looked stunningly in a light pink churidar.
“Avi, can I speak to you?” she asked.
“Yes, you can.” he said.
“Not here. Somewhere else.” she said.
“Why not here?” he asked.
“Hey! Avi, go man.” said Sanjay, pushing him.

They both walked together to a lonely place and it was in the garden in the college compound. They went and sat under a tree, near the fountain. A couple of butterflies few near them, one was yellow colour with black spots and other was black with brown spots.

“Okay, now, tell me, what is it?” he asked.
“You know, Avinash, from a long time I wanted to tell you this…” she said.
“What?” he asked.
“That I love you very much!” she said, handing a greeting card, with a pink rose flower on it. “Happy valentine’s day! I wish to marry you!”
“It’s o.k.” he said, taking it.” But you see…”
“But, what?” she asked.
“But I have always thought you to be my good friend and I have never thought apart from that..” he said. “and…”
“and..?” she asked.
“I love someone else…so, I’m extremely very sorry.” he said.
“It’s ok.” she said, nearly in tears.
“Hey! why are you crying like a small baby?” he asked, handing her his handkerchief. “Come on, wipe your tears, or else. Other might think that I have done something to you.”
“May I know, who that lucky person is ?”She asked, wiping her tears, with that kerchief.
“Well, right now, I can’t tell you about her. But when the right time comes then I will certainly introduce her to you.’ he said.
“Anyway, let’s remain friends, at least.’ she said, smiling and extending her right hand to him.
“As you wish.” he said, shaking her hand.
Sometime later, he went back to Sanjay:-
“What happened?” he asked, curiously.
“She said that she loves me and proposed to me.” said Avinash.
“and what did you say?” he asked, coming forward.
“I said, No.” he said.

“Avi, it was so stupid of you to do that, you know. She is such a wonderful person. Maybe, you won’t find a girl like her. You will repent for what you have done someday. Then it will be too late for anything.” said Sanjay.
Avinash went back home and laid down on his bed and thought about what had happened that day and he asked himself, whether what he had done was right thing or not? he didn’t have the answer. He tossed one rupee coin in the air and said:-

“Heads.” as he caught the coin in between his palms and he removed the upper palm, that is the right hand. The coin showed “Tails.”
“Forget it, buddy!” he said. “Anyway, a mere coin can’t decide your fortune!”
He went to the window and looked out. She was combing her hair in the balcony. He asked her whether she had her coffee, before she could answer, her mother came into the balcony and looked directly at him. He raised his hand up to his head and started combing his hair with his fingers. So that she shouldn’t get any doubt. She stared at him, told her something and went inside. Suddenly, she burst into peals of laughter remembering how he had pretended looking at her mother. He went inside somewhat annoyed, closed the door and went to his room. She looked from her window and held her ears with her fingers to say, she was sorry. He smiled at her and she smiled back at him. Just then someone, knocked on the door: –
“Come in!” he cried. “The door is open.”
“Hi! Buddy, how is your romance through the window going on?” asked Sunjay, coming inside his room.
“Hey! When did you become so disciplined?” Avinash asked.
“Well, I remembered what you had told me , when I came near your door.” he said. “Did you go and meet her?”
“Good, don’t forget it. No, tell me how I should I go and meet her?” he asked.
“Come on, man, I’m not a romantic freak.” he said. “What do I know about romance and meeting girls?” he asked, teasingly.
“Come on, Sanju, tell me or else…” he warned.
“What will you do?” he asked.
“I’ll…I’ll stop talking to you.” he said.
“Then go on by all means, what’s stopping you?” he said.
“Is this what you call friendship? Don’t you remember that a good friend in need is…?” he said.
“…Is a friend in deed. Okay, why don’t you directly go to her home and meet her?” he said.
“No, It’s not possible. I don’t think her parents will let me talk to her.” he said.
“Then doesn’t she come out of her apartments at all?” he asked.” say to buy something?”
“Maybe, after I go to the college?” he said.
“I have an idea!” Sanjay Said.
“What is it?” asked Avinash.
“Write a love letter and make a racket out of it and throw it at her window. Simple, isn’t it?” he said.
“Whose window?” asked Avinash’s mother, coming with a tray of two cups of coffee, one cup of milk and a plate of biscuits?
“Aunty, I was speaking about that window.” he said, pointing his finger at her window.
“Why? what’s wrong?” she asked, looking at it and handing them cups of coffee, and keeping the plate of biscuits on the table.
“No, I was just telling him that it is really beautiful.” he said, munching a biscuit.
“Eh? do you mean that girl behind that window or that window?” she asked him teasingly, keeping the cup of milk on the wall, outside the window, for Govind.
“No, aunty, I swear!” he said, spitting some coffee into the cup, with a jerk.
“O.k,O.k, I trust you.” she said, smiling at him and going away, with the empty tray.

“You don’t know what to talk and when?” said Avinash, slightly annoyed.
“Come on, man, why don’t you tell your mother to come inside your room only after knocking on the door?” he said.
“Now, come back to the point!” he said. ” You were telling something about some paper racket?”
“Why don’t you do that?” he asked.
“It’s not as simple as you had said. Let’s forget the racket reaching her, if it lands on some auntie’s head or some uncle’s pocket?” he said.
“If it lands on some aunt’s head then she will fall in love with you and if it lands in some uncle’s pocket then he will make you black and white, if he has a daughter.” he said.
“Come on, stop kidding and be serious.” he said.
“Or else, why don’t you tell her in your usual sign-language?” he asked.
“How can I convey it in the sign- language?” he asked. “I am as bad as SRK in the movie KKHH.”
“Well, simple, you know how to convey ‘I’ and ‘You’, isn’t it? You convey ‘I’ by touching yourself with your hand and then show her a heart sign, sketched on a piece of paper and point your finger at her and she will understand it. If she too does the same thing then your job is done.” he said.
“Well, It could be risky. What if someone sees me doing it?” he said.
“I have another idea.’ he said. “Do you have Tennis Rackets and tennis ball?”
“Yes, why?” he asked.
“Good, now take a pen and paper and write a love letter addressed to her.” he said.
“But…?” he asked, surprised.
“Just do it.” he said.
“Ok, here is it.” he said, handing it to him.” Will it do?”
“Yes.” he said, folding the paper into four and keeping it in his shirt pocket. “Now, take the rackets and tennis ball and follow me.”
They both went to the open terrace of Avinash’s Apartment and started playing. Then Sunjay hit the ball hard in the wrong direction. The ball went and landed in her balcony.
“Hey! why did you hit the ball there?” asked Avinash.
“It’s a part of this idea, buddy. Now, just go and ring her doorbell, and if she comes and opens the door, then give her this letter and ask her to give the ball. How’s it?” he said.
“Good, what if her mother or father open the door?” he asked.
“Then just ask for the ball and come back with it.” he said.” We’ll think of another plan then.”
“O.K., thanks.” he said, with a smile on his face, rushing downstairs as fast as he could. He went to her flat and rang the door bell. Her mother came and opened the door. She stared at him.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Well, my tennis ball has fallen into your balcony. I came to fetch it.” he said.
“Sapna!” She cried. “go and get the ball in our balcony and give it to him.” saying this, she went in.
“Take it!” she said, coming and giving it to him.
“Thanks.” he said, taking it. “So, your name is Sapna, and my name is Avinash.”
“Now, you go!” she said, trying to close the door.
“O.K., take this letter and give me your answer.” he said, giving that letter to her and went away. She closed the door.

That night, he went to his window and looked at her window. He found her shouting at her brother. She showed him something, he assumed it to be his letter and she was saying something. Then she came out in the balcony and looked at the sky, and her eyes filled with tears and started flowing down her cheeks.
She didn’t wipe them; she held her hands to the railings of her balcony and looked sadly at his window. She never seemed so sad before. He came out later and said something to her, maybe a small ‘sorry’, for breaking her little heart. He placed his hand around her shoulders. They both turned back and went inside and closed the balcony door behind them.

Next morning, Aruna came and tied a Rakhee* and kept a sweet in Avinash’s mouth, took his Arthi. He placed a hundred rupees note in the plate. Then he came out in the balcony and looked at her window. She opened her window and told him to come to the terrace of her apartments. So, he went there and found her waiting’ with little kids from the apartments. He went near her and looked into her attractive eyes.

“So, what’s your answer?” he asked her.
“Close your eyes!” she said, smiling.
“Why?” he asked.
“Just do as I say.” she said.
“O.k. Hope you won’t push me down from this terrace.” he said, teasingly.
“No, I swear I won’t.” she said.
“O.k.” he said, closing his eyes. “Now, what?”
“Extend both your hands.” she said.
So, he did as she told him. She held his hands. Sometime later: –
“Can I open my eyes, now?” he asked.
“Not yet!” she cried, and her voice came from some distance.

“Can I open my eyes now?” he asked, again, opening his eyes and looked around. She was gone. He looked at his right hand. He found another Rakhee*. She had tied it. He couldn’t believe his eyes, he felt his heart beat become low. Tears filled in his eyes, came down his cheeks, he had never cried like this before. He never felt so low and hurted before.In that instinct, he picked up a brick and threw it up into the sky, annoyed and enraged.

“I hate you, God! I hate you!” he cried, looking up at the sky.
That brick came down and there was a crashing noise down, in one of the flats.
“Hey! who broke our window glass?” someone cried.
He went back home and locked himself in his room and laid down on his bed, punched his pillow. Later, he heard someone knock on the door.
“Sunjay, I don’t know what has happened to him? from morning, he has locked himself in his room and didn’t even have his lunch.” said his mother.
“Okay, aunty, I will ask him, don’t worry.” he said, knocking on his door again. “Avi, open the door or I’ll break and come inside.”
He went and opened the door and let him in and again bolted the door.
“So you did as I had told you?” he asked. ” And what happened?”
“Do you like to see what happened? Then see for yourself.,” he said, showing his right hand to him.
“So, she tied you a rakhee and made you, her brother.” he said, trying hard to hide his smile. “But it is not the end of the world, my friend. You will meet nice and better girls.” he advised.
“But I loved her very much!” he said.
“It’s o.k. It’s never late. Why don’t you accept Arch’s proposal. She loves you.” he said.
“Will she accept me, now?” he asked.
“I hope so.” he said.
So next day, in the college campus:-
“Arch, remember that day, you told me that you loved me?” he asked.
“Yes, I did.” Archana said.
“Do you still feel the same way about me?” he asked.
“Avinash, I am really very sorry. After you had said ‘No’. One person came and proposed to me and i accepted his proposal and here he is, Ajay.” she said, introducing him to Avinash.
“Hi!” he said, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Avinash couldn’t believe that this was in fact happening to him. He went away dejected. He was depressed for some days. He didn’t look out of the window. One night, he got up to drink some water, as he was thirsty. He happened to see at her window; the lights were on, he heard him screaming and shouting at her. He gave her a slap and she fell down on the bed. He took out his belt and started hitting her with it. Avinash was shocked. He thought what h should do? He went and picked up the phone and dialed some numbers and it started ringing. He told the police about it. Within sometime, the police jeep came to screeching halt near the apartments; a couple of policemen got down from the jeep, rushed up. They rang the bell. No one opened the door. They repeated it. Finally, they broke into the house. Then there was some confrontation between him and the policemen. They both dragged him out of the flat, his hands handcuffed. They dragged him down to the jeep. He had one last look at Avinash’s window before they could push him into the jeep and the jeep went away.

Next morning, he came out of his balcony and saw them vacating their flat. They were keeping their things in a van Then the three of them came to his flat and ringed the doorbell.

Avinash’s mother came and opened the door and let them in. They told her something. His mother called him. He was scared.

“I am sorry for what i had done.” he said.
“No, we are grateful to you for saving our daughter-in-law.” said the old man.
“Isn’t she your daughter?” asked Avinash, shocked and surprised.
“No.” said her mother-in-law. “My son had an affair with another rich woman. When she came to know about it and showed him her snap, along with her letter. He fought with his wife and started ill-treating her. He even asked her to sign the divorce papers, last night, so that he could marry that rich bitch. When she refused to do so, he locked us both in a room. He was strangling her to death, when the police broke in and took him away.”
“Thank you, brother.” Said Sapna. ” If you hadn’t called the police then i wouldn’t have seen this day. I will always remember you.”
So, they went away. His mother came and said :-
“Son, what you had done was the right thing and you saved her life. I am really proud of you.”

So, days passed by, he used to look at her window every day and used to feel sad whenever he saw her vacate flat.

One day evening, as usual, he kept a cup of milk on the wall outside his window. Govind, the squirrel raced on the branch of the Gulmohar tree and leaped on the window wall. He started sipping the milk from that cup. Then came into his room. He picked him in his palm of his hand and rubbed gently on his furry back and placed him at the window. He leaped from the window wall and landed on the branch of the Gulmohar tree, raced back to his hole in the tree.

Avinash happened to see a beautiful girl in the window of that vacate flat. She smiled at him and waved her hand to him. But he closed the window and pulled down the curtain.

The End.