When Karma Goes Upside Down

When

Karma

Goes Upside

Down

When

Karma

Goes Upside

Down

DISHANT HURIA

Srishti

Publishers & Distributors

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Registered Office: N-16, C.R. Park

New Delhi – 110 019

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First published by

Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2017

Copyright © Dishant Huria, 2017

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, organisations and events described in this book are either a work of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to people, living or dead, places, events, communities or organisations is purely coincidental.

The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.

Disclaimer: The book, author or publisher do not endorse the use of tobacco, alcohol or any other intoxicant in any form in any way. Readers’ discretion advised.

Printed and bound in India

The novel is dedicated to the misery and sadness I had gone through. Had I not seen the stretch of darkness, I would have never understood the role of karma in shaping up our destiny.

Also thanks to the cigarette brand Benson & Hedges for keeping my anxiety in check during vulnerable times.

Ridhima

Sunday, 15 February 2015

Why would you not answer my call?

Well I was busy… I hardly had time to check the phone, she said.

Busy enough that you forgot that your boyfriend would be waiting for your call?

Yes, kind of!

I could sense her turning cold. I hung up, hoping she’d call me later and apologize.

The next morning, I received a message from her,

I think we need to take a break. Nothing is going right between us.

I replied, Well there is no coming back if it is over. Then let it be.

However, after a couple of hours, I knew I had to put my ego aside. A break up was the last thing I wanted.

So I called her, and when she finally answered, I said, Ridhima, I want to see you.

She said, Well, I am out with my friends; it’s not possible for me to meet you…

Please Ridhima, we’ve got to talk it out.

I told you, I need a break. How else do I say it? She sounded impatient. I could hear music in the background and wondered where she was.

Well, can you at least meet me once?

Fine, I’ll be home in an hour. Let me know once you reach. I will come down.

Her voice still had the potential to make me feel weak. Irrespective of the rift, I loved her. I made my way to see her, parking the car right underneath her house. Her flat was on the second floor; I looked towards her balcony and called out loudly from the car, Ridhima, I am waiting downstairs!

After about five minutes, I saw her walking towards the car. She had a big smile on her face, as if nothing had happened. She was dressed to kill, and had make-up on her face. I looked at the rear view mirror and ran my fingers through my hair as she entered the car.

She smelled good. I wanted to take her in my arms, but stopped myself. She needed to first set my mind at rest.

I asked her, "What’s wrong, Ridhima? Have I done something wrong? Please tell me how I can fix it… we were supposed to be together for a very long time… how come a little hiccup has turned our relationship so fragile?

Aarush, I cannot feel anything! I have turned numb. I just don’t know what’s going on, she said, fidgeting with her hands.

What do you mean, Ridhima? You are not alone in this relationship. I deserve a fair chance. What happened to all those commitments and promises that we made to each other? I ran my fingers through my hair again, this time in agitation. Were they meaningless? Weren’t we supposed to stay together in the toughest of times? Weren’t we supposed to bring new light in our lives, together, with each other?

Aarush, I have nothing to say, I am sorry, she said.

Ridhima, I know you are angry and frustrated with your life. Sitting at home and doing nothing can bring frustration and anguish in anybody, but this does not mean that you should vent it out on our relationship. I have also struggled along with you, haven’t I?

Her face had turned blank, her body language was making it evident that it was over, but my heart was not willing to accept it. I had never been able to give up on anything. I knew my self-esteem would not permit me to let her go so easily. At least she was talking to me.

She said, Aarush, after all that we have gone through, I know that your love has also faded. It is not the same… and you know it very well.

Maybe she was right, but I hardly had time to think about it. I was more concerned about our future together. I tried to console her and take her in my arms, trying to remind her of how it felt. But she pushed me away. I don’t love you anymore, why don’t you get it?

I could always predict her next move, that’s what I had thought ever since I had known her. Four years was a long time. But her present behaviour was unpredictable and rather shocking. I looked at her and felt hollow. She had been the only one right aspect in my life.

And then she said, I will take your leave now, you better take care of yourself, and it was nice knowing you, Aarush.

Was she talking to a stranger or to me? I did not know what to do or say as she left.

It had been like a melodramatic scene which happened in romantic movies, or so I had thought. Similar movie scenes started playing before my eyes and I started to laugh loudly. I was angry at myself. How could somebody like me lose control over this situation? I was not supposed to feel this way. I switched the car ignition on, took a u-turn and began the thirty-minute drive back from Rajouri to my house in Rohini.

I crossed the first red light, and seeing traffic ahead I presumed it would take no less than forty-five minutes to cross the second light, so I rolled the window down. I could hear honking and abuses on the road and see eunuchs asking for money from the truck drivers. I took out a cigarette and lit it and started to play with the lighter, when my brain started to develop a theory. She had a perfect window: her internship was going to keep her busy for more than fourteen hours a day and there were a lot of happy faces in a radio channel. When you see happy faces, you tend to forget what sadness is all about. Moreover, they were much more confident than I was under the current circumstances, so she would hardly have time to think about me. I parked the car in the not so empty parking lot right underneath my apartment and took the stairs up home.

v

Sunday, 22 February

Ridhima hadn’t called or messaged me for the past one week. We were supposed to celebrate our fourth anniversary today, I thought on my way towards the grounds to play cricket. Considering the loop I was stuck in, I badly needed some confidence, and cricket was just another way of regaining some of the lost self-respect. As I reached the grounds, I could see some sardars standing on one side. All of them had fat bellies and some of them had tattoos on their arms which said, ‘Khalsa rules!’

I bowled the first ball of the match and was hit for a six. The guy with the fat belly who was batting looked at me as if he had just won an Oscar. I bowled the next ball at a much better speed and he tried to cut the ball on the off side. The fielder at the gully caught the ball. The batsman walked out with his face down in shame, and I had a loud laugh.

The game continued and I managed to have an impressive wicket tally of five wickets. Walking back, I had a smile on my face. I knew it would only stay with me for a few minutes, but I still enjoyed it.

We won the match, and putting my feelings aside, I went to meet all the sardars that comprised the opposite team, greeting them in a polite manner.

On my way back, I stopped at a nearby panwadi and picked up some cigarettes of my regular brand, Benson and Hedges. I made a call to Ridhima, and she answered instantly.

Hi Ridhima, I said. "Is there any chance of seeing you today?

Umm, okay. I will be there at your place in around an hour, she said.

I went home, had a shower, brushed my hair, trimmed my beard, and wore a white t-shirt, ensuring that my chest muscles were visible, and a pair of denim jeans, wanting to look decent enough to meet my girlfriend. After all, appearances did matter.

I went out and saw her sitting in her car. I walked towards her car and she waved at me. I waved back, crossed the road, and sat inside.

So, how are you, Ridhima? I asked her, suddenly at a loss for words.

I am good, Aarush. Where should we go? She was polite as well.

We can park the car at an isolated place, sit and talk, if you are fine with it?

Yes, I am fine with whatever you want, she said and shrugged her shoulders.

She parked the car next to a movie hall nearby. There was silence for a couple of minutes.

I said, Let’s give one hour to each other to talk and decide…

She laughed a demonic laugh. A sudden chill went up my spine.

What’s wrong, Ridhima?

What should I say? There is nothing much to talk about, is there?

Say what is on your mind.

And so the conversation began.

She said, I told you earlier as well, I do not feel anything anymore.

I looked at her. And you are realizing this after four years? At least tell me what I have done wrong?

Not many, just some small instances that have made me move away from you…

But you never told me anything. I was surprised by her words.We could have tried to turn things around.

How could I have told you anything, when I was also not sure what was going on?

Ridhima, is breaking up the solution?

No, it is not. She clutched the steering wheel. But I don’t love you anymore, so how can I be with you?

I burst out in anger, yet I tried to control the volume of my voice, Fine, Ridhima. I cannot force you into anything, but please make sure you stick to your decision. I do not have a switch in my body that can go on and off as per your convenience.

I pushed open the car door and stormed out. She called out to me, Don’t leave, I’ll drop you home…

You have already dropped me, I can get up on my own, I yelled back at her. I started walking back, laughing loudly at myself. Passers-by looked at me in amazement as I walked past the main market in Rohini.

After ten minutes, I received a message from her:

You don’t love me in the same manner as you used to. It is not entirely my fault.

I wanted to reply. I wanted to say:

Yes, I do not love you in the same manner. I have changed. People grow. Maybe my love is also different, but that does not mean I do not love you, or my emotions are not as selfless as they use to be. My priorities might have changed, but love is still love. Trying to weigh somebody’s emotions is an act of foolishness.

But I resisted this impulse. I knew nothing good would come out of showing my weak side to a woman who had already left me.

v

The next morning, I got up with a dry mouth. My head was hurting and there was a niggling ache right where my heart was. I headed towards my mother’s room. My father was ready to leave for office, and I waited for him to do so. We hadn’t been on talking terms for some time. As soon as he left, I went straight to my mother and hugged her, trying hard to control my tears.

Surprised to see me like that, she asked, "What happened, Aarush? Is everything fine? Answer me, son.

As she held me in her arms, I started sobbing. I had no intention to create a scene, but the tears would not stop. She looked a little worried, but I was already feeling a little better. The previous evening’s disappointment had made me feel hollow.

My mother asked me, What’s wrong, Aarush? Please tell me.

I said, I should not have done it.

What did you do? she asked, her eyes widening with shock.

Ridhima… I should have never fallen in love with her! I was wrong about her.

She seemed less worried as I spoke. She must have thought that I had borrowed money from someone, and was now unable to repay it. In a middle class family there is mostly one major problem, and that is Maya, money. Everything seems to be centered around money, and the other emotions do not appear to exist. But I needed someone with whom I could share my emotional pain, and so I did.

My mother consoled me, saying, It’s all right, it will pass in no time. This happens. You may have a heavy heart, but there is nothing much you can do. Just do not have any hatred for her. It is part of a process. You meet people and then they leave. They come into our lives to teach us some kind of lesson.

It was interesting to see how easily she was saying all this, considering the fact that she hated all my paternal family, from my grandmother to my father’s sisters. She hated all of them, and anybody who was even remotely associated with them. And ‘hate’ is a weak word. Given a knife and liberty, she might not think twice before stabbing them all.

I asked her, I know you are right, but how could I have been so foolish not to see this coming?

Well, sometimes we forget, and then we commit mistakes. You’ve got to stay strong, Aarush, and remember this lesson for the rest of your life.

v

Days just passed by. I had