Love in August...............(Part 3)

*** 13th August 2005

10:45 AM.
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It was a holiday and Sailo woke up late. He was deeply into the morning newspaper after having a light breakfast when Subha came looking fussed up. He flung onto the bed and let out a deep sigh. Sailo sensed the symptoms... Subha had some terrible announcement so he folded up the newspaper and turned to face him expectantly.

“This came in today fifteen minutes ago.” Subha said and handed over his mobile phone.

“’thnks for ur concrn.got chnce in woodlands.they confirmed yesterday.’”- Sailo read aloud the message and gave out a soft whistle. Now everything was making sense to him. The game was on. He could not however understand why Subha was dejected. He went on to explain his theory.

“What did I tell you? She had everything fixed but had asked you to help.” Sailo said winking, “Look this is great news! Have you congratulated her? You should have done it.”

“You laugh and the world laughs with you. You cry and the world laughs even louder- is that what you are doing Sailo?” Subha snapped back.

“I suggest you let go that anger and listen...” Sailo said leaning forward “... give her a call and let her know that you are very happy that she has got through in Woodlands. Tell her anything and show that you are really relieved. Then, say goodbye, and make it sound very convincing as if this is your last call for the reason has ceased to exist to call her up again. Then see what happens.”

“What will happen?” Subha said sitting up now. “What will happen, Sailo? Will she say...'No no don't hang up dear Subha? I cannot live without you ... bla bla bla'“

“Trust me. I have never let you down, have I?” Sailo said sensing the sarcasm.

“Only that, I have never asked your help before... yes you have been very reliable... that is most comforting” Subha was furious. He could not see what Sailo was driving him into. It seemed they were daydreaming about this whole game thing.

“Okay but do trust me this time. I am sure the whole situation would be very clear once you can do it well.”

“Fine. I guess there is nothing more to do. So I will do it; repent all my life but I will do it. And I will let you know, you Smart-guy, Mr. Know-all.” Subha said resigning.

Subha went to the balcony for the signal was better there. He dialed. Sailo could make out his voice but not what he was saying... he was, for the first time, a bit tensed at his suggestion. He knew if the girl was interested she would not fail to see that it was a goodbye call and would do everything to stop this happening but if she was not... “God help me” he thought.

Subha came back into the room almost after a fifteen minute talk. He was frowning. “There is a problem. The authorities of Woodlands had obviously called her up and informed her about some problem. She has to go down there and sort it out. There is some problem with the dates. She said it was nothing very serious but some additional harassment...” Subha trailed off.

“Hooray! Subha you are in! YOU ARE DEFINITELY IN. Congratulations man! You have won yourself a pretty girlfriend. I am envious” Sailo burst out relieved.

“What the heck? Why do you say so? You are not joking are you?” Subha demanded indignantly. “What is her problem got to do with this?”

“Don't you see she has kept an avenue open for you to enquire again? Don’t you see it?” Sailo was now smiling.

Realization set in. It took Sailo a Herculean effort to draw out the conclusion to Subha's satisfaction but at last Subha saw logic in the explanation. Sailo was right. He had tried to say the goodbye with a lot of conviction and then she fell silent for a moment... Loss of signal perhaps Subha had thought, but then she started with her latest problems saying about the alleged call and the harassment she would have to undergo... She did not say all these when Subha had congratulated her but waited till he had said the parting words. Subha began to see the logic Sailo had laid and he too felt like his former self again. Hopes began to rise and he was seeing light again.

“You might be right” he said at length, “but what now? She has started a new episode altogether. What do I do Sailo?”

“Send her the mushiest SMS you can think of and wish her all the luck. Also mention that you would like to know the status of this problem when it is addressed”

“Now you are talking.” Subha smiled and started the composition immediately. “What do I write?”

“That is something that you have figure out yourself for it has to be original...” said Sailo.

Subha stopped for a moment and looked at his friend. The cool and calculated and always-right fellow was very much unlike him and yet he seemed so wise and so much ahead of his years. Subha wished many a times under different circumstances he could be like his friend. That was one such moment. Sailo was not a very hard working and exercise crazy types and therefore he was of more than normal gait. He was, what doctors would call, slightly overweight. With a round face and oval shaped glasses he looked no more than sixteen but his eyes were bright and intelligent and often Subha could read a lot of expressions in his eyes. It was almost as if he could speak with them. When Subha had met Sailo, he had been much heavier and it was Subha's constant nagging that Sailo has trimmed down a bit resulting from his controlled diet. Sailo was fearful of exercising and Subha's repeated insistence to Sailo to join him in his jogging had been fruitless. He was the late-riser types. Subha remembered his more important work at hand and proceeded to write a romantic SMS for the first time in his life.

8:40 PM.
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It was adda at Sailo's place and Subha was chattering loudly about the recent developments. Raja was listening attentively. He was Subha's friend since childhood. Raja had come to Sailo’s place with Subha and since then he too had taken a liking to him. Raja was adding comments here and there, clarifying the details where Subha had missed out when the SMS came. Subha opened it with obvious expectancy and made a face that suggested he had been taken for a ride. Sailo leaned right and tried to read the message when Subha handed the phone out to him with a puzzled expression.

“'Thiking about me? Actually I am also doing the same. Ha ha.'” Sailo read aloud for the benefit of all present. “Well, well, well. It looks like she has dropped her guard. I can hardly expect this SMS from a stranger... What say you Raja?”

“True. It sounds like she is enjoying the confusion. You can ask her out now” said Raja, “or at least make unannounced phone calls.”

Sailo had recovered from the state of confusion and felt clear headed. Sailo was right yet again. He could not believe the ease with which he had been able to conduct this whole affair... it was almost surreal. Thanks to Sailo's vast experience in dealing with the fairer sex, he could not have made it even to the first SMS stage without him.

As if reading his thoughts, Sailo asked “So when are we to get the treat we deserve? Next Saturday okay with you Raja?” It was just a courtesy question. Sailo knew Raja would postpone anything for a treat; but he had to make sure that Subha would not give them a miss. As expected Raja had any problems but the host Subha himself protested.

“Let us not count our chickens before they hatch...” he tried, “Letting me get the facts straight and then perhaps...”

“No excuses Subha, you miser” added Raja, “Remember you had promised me a treat, which never materialized, when you get through in Joint? I still remember; so no lax this time. Next Saturday it is.”

“Yes next Saturday” two cried out together.

“But, Guys this is not even a date it is just a harmless SMS” Subha protested.

“Okay. If say, you go out with Deboti within the next Saturday then? Would you still not treat us?” said Sailo, his eyes taking that unusual glitter.

Subha knew Sailo has decided upon the next course of action and it was probably to make him go out with Deboti by the next week. He was excited. “Tell me what do you have in mind?”

“First things first, reply the SMS with an affirmation and say something very poetic. If I am not mistaken, she is in a romantic mood right now and you should hit the iron when it is hot. Then I will tell you what to do.”

Subha had been thinking in the same lines and he set off to reply. Raja poured over his screen watching with rising excitement at the prospect of playing the mediator in such sensitive and important times. When the reply was sent Subha turned to his “guiding light” as Raja had put it.

“The next time you meet her or call her up do make sure you get her college schedule. If she has a busy schedule and cannot bunk classes then try to meet on the 15th, it is a holiday, so no college, and go out to some eatery if possible. Get her to talk and I am sure you will have your date. I would suggest The Scoop”

“Remember to sound assertive” Raja chipped in.

Subha felt like he was a seven year old, being warned of the dangers associated with talking to strangers, but he was prepared to let his friends take him on if the prize was Deboti. Only the other day he had heard the song by some Ronan Keating. It was particularly very catchy and it seemed to have captured all of Subha's feelings. It was something like “It's amazing how you could speak right to my heart... Without saying a word, you can light up the dark... “ he did not know the words well but he felt in harmony with the feelings it expressed. He decided to try his luck with the setting up of a date with Deboti.

“Sleep well” Sailo said when they parted at the gate.


*** 14th August 2005

10:00 AM.
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“Sailo?”

“Yes”

“I am afraid, THE TREAT IS ON!! “Shouted Subha, at the other end of the phone.

Sailo had to take the receiver away from his ears for the benefit of his ear drum, but the news had registered and he felt almost Godly. This was the first time he has ever provided his expertise in dealing with women for someone else. He felt relieved. Having had to bear in mind the constant pressure that he was in ... from his experience he knew affairs could ruin friendships and create misunderstandings. Had this idea of his' backfired, he had no doubt that there would have been tensions between him and Subha. He took on the risk for he knew Subha and wished him well. He knew Subha was very serious about his likings and this girl, Deboti had bowled him over. “So what did you plan and when are you going out?”

“Tomorrow.” Subha said triumphantly “and this would have never been possible without you.... I simply cannot thank you enough... “

“No ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ in friendship.” Sailo cut him short “Wish you all the very best of luck.”

There was a pause and Subha seemed to be breathing heavily. When he spoke, the voice sounded somewhat choked “Sailo, you may be offended but I HAVE to thank you for what you have done. Had I been your position I would not have taken up the trouble of guiding you. You have helped me immensely. If this affair is to continue it would be solely because you have helped me overcome the toughest period of the courtship, 'making an impression'. I know I can handle from here on but I will never forget what you have done.”

“Okay! Save something for the treat too ...” said Sailo and they broke into a laugh.

*** 6th November 2005

8:00 PM.
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“Deboti, meet Sailendra alias Sailo... Sailo meet Deboti”

“Alias?” quizzed Sailo with a charming smile. “Nice to meet you Deboti”

“Nice to meet you too...” she said with a sweet voice “He always talks so highly of you, and keeps telling me that someday he will make me meet you because of something very special you did to help him out when he fell in love with me.”

“Oh that’s a loooong story and perhaps the evening would be spoiled if we start once again.”

Subha’s eyes met Sailo's and they winked.

**** End****