Chapter 3: The Curious Case of the Mysterious Number.

Chapter #3

A/N – All the professions and professionals are respected equally. There is no intention to hurt anyone's emotions or work ethics. A part may not go well with some people, I apologize to them prior. This is a work of fiction inspired from true life incidents.

“Please think something!” Ram yelled at Vikram,  moving restlessly around the room. “I have one day and three service providers!”

“That’s the point my brother, three mobile operators and what I can do in this stupidity?” yelled back Vikram, looking equally frustrated. “Bhai mere koi bhi challenge le leta (You could have accepted any challenge) but why this ridiculous thing? Do you even have an idea how many users each service provider has?” The stern look from Ram, defined how unconvinced he is. “And why are you behind me?”

“Who is from telecom industry?” shouted back Ram, “You!!” he pointed.

“Why? Why I am from telecom industry?” Vikram threw a cushion at his friend shouting, “Who the hell is Priya and why you are after her like a mad dog? Please brother try to understand if someone is throwing such challenge that means, she don’t want to go out with you. Open your eyes and face the truth.”

“You are useless. I will find out a way to have her number, what she said to me…” Ram smiled remembering, “Beg Borrow or Steal!”

“So you are going to steal her number or beg to her?” Vikram looked up, “And just now you were saying that you asked the number from her like a man then what happened? What did she said?”

“She didn’t say a single word, before that, that hawalder spoiled everything. Shit man she was completely lost in me..” Ram cursed himself, “I spoiled by parking there.”

Few Hours Back.

“Priya. Can I have your number please?” Said Ram looking into her eyes straight. She had never been under someone’s observation so intently. He repeated with a smile, “Can I have your number please?” With the support of his right elbow on the stirring wheel he leaned closer to her. That smile stamped on his face has a surprising magnetic pull, that she never felt before. The strand of hair that was blocking the view of the solace beauty, Ram tucked the same behind her ears making her look down. Tilting his face towards her, a little closer he went, half seated on the seat and half elevated between the two seats he repeated again, this time with much more passion; which was hard to ignore. She looked up.

“I..I…”she missed to construct the phrases, “means .. said …” her every word and every phrase got miss fired. “First you stop looking at me like this.” Priya looked down to the phone that still lay on her lap.

“No” Ram said with a smile, “Until and unless you are not going to give me your number I am not letting you escape and I will park this car here only and keep on staring at you like this. Soch lo!”

“It’s a challenge and …” She suddenly stopped looking little worried, “Sir..” before she could complete Ram jumped to correct her again, “Ram.. yaar my name is Ram.”

“I know.” She gritted the words, “Will you please look back? NOW!!” she ordered.

“WHAT YAAR.” Loud and clear the words got uttered and paused there, looking back, Ram found someone knocking at the window glass, with the black film on it, neither of them was sure of the intruder. “Who is it?” irritated Ram moved the glass window down; with half of it down the frustration translated into worry. The constable looked in the worst possible way, “bahar bahar..dono bahar..(Come out)” he order with his baton pointing straight to Ram. Ram could see another constable walking towards them.

“No need to get down.” He took the phone from Priya’s hand, “You stay here okay! I will handle them.” He got out of the car and locked it so that the other rider don’t get a chance to intrude in the messy business they were into.

The constables took Ram to a corner, which is clearly in the radius of Priya’s vision. She tried to get out of the car and found it locked. Helpless she leaned back to the seat.

“Sir, we just parked to have a chat, nothing else.” Ram tried to convince.

“Everyone talks this shit okay! So come along with us and ladki, ladki nahi dikh rahi hain (where is that girl?) bring her too. Explain everything there.” One of them replied harshly.

“Sir. Samjha karo na (please try and understand) nothing was going on there.” He pleaded again.

“We understand everything. With the tinted glass what people do inside we all know. Don’t try to teach us! SAMJHE!!” shouted the other one. “Now come with us and I will get that lady.” Ram held back the policeman by his hand. The harsh look made him step back immediately. Back at the car Priya got little worried to see the situation going out of his hand. She picked up her phone and dialed Ram’s number. He disconnected the call at its first ring without looking at it. “Sir I am really really sorry, please no police station and don’t drag her in this all. Please.”

Finding Ram defensive the constables looked at each other. Ram gave them more chance when he offered to close the matter there only. With the offender in the defensive side, the greed of the two unfaithful men boosted, they demanded 5000 rupees from him as a fine and favor fee not registering any case against him or Priya.

“Sir, 5000!” Ram exclaimed in shock. “It’s too much. Be a little generous.”

“If you want this matter to end here this is the charge now a days for people like you.” the laughed at him.

“People like me ?” asked Ram surprised.

“What do you think? We are fool?” asked one of them, “We don’t know what you can afford or have, you rich spoilt brat! Look at yourself your car your mobile”

Ram knew he is trapped, they have noticed every details of him, “Sir, I would have given it to you but I only have this much with me.” Pulling out his wallet he emptied it to them. The constable carefully counted the notes and declared the exact amount to be “3,820” . “There are some more in my pocket, it will make it 4000 I think” Ram shoved his hands into his pant’s pocket. Checking every pocket he pulled out some more, which summed up the money to 4,126 including the coins that he had. “Please Sir, let us go.”

The men looked at each other and smiled victoriously, “chalo jao, (okay go.) But If we catch you next time this will not help you, remember it!” they turned back and walked away from him. Ram sighed in relief, he took off his coat and walked back to the hanging it from his shoulder.

“Everything is fine?” asked Priya as he got in.

“Yes.” He threw the jacket on the back seat and hurried his wallet on the dash board. “Can I have one?” pleaded Ram pointing to the cigarettes. “Please I need it!”

“No.” Priya took the pack and put it in her bag. “No means no, first tell me what was happening there and how much did you pay them?”

“They were threatening to take you and me to the police station and …” Priya took the charge of the conversation, “ So, le jatein, what was the big deal? Did they caught us in any compromising position; we were talking only, right? Is that a crime? Unbelievable and you bribed them?”

Ram was happy and worried at the same time, happy to know that his closeness didn’t bother her; it went easy with her and worried to know the annoyance building up within her. “How can I pull you to the police station?”

“What do you think I was never been there?” Priya shocked Ram.

“What?? You were been to police station?”

Now knowing the curiosity of the man, she hides the truth, “Yes I was been there, why anything wrong in that? Before you ask why let me tell you we had some chaos at our college fest and was picked up by the cops. That’s another story.” Making up stories at the right moment is some great skills she is gifted with. She never lies but when she actually does, she makes sure that everyone believes in it. “But you tell me why you bribed them?”

“Sorry” Ram replied, “If I had a knowledge you are okay with going to the police station I would have offered them to make us their guests for the night and then my father your father, our company, jobs you know na what I mean?”

“Okay! I understand! Now can you drop me home?” urged Priya.

“Number?”

“UFFFFF!!” aggravated Priya, “Number! Number and Number!! I have challenged you right? Fulfill it and now please move from here, the traffic is building up too.” When Ram denied, she blackmailed him, “If you don’t I will definitely going to make a scene and will put the charges of abducting me on you.”

“Jez you are impossible!!” He ignited the car.

“Thank You. So am I and you don’t know me!!” smiled Priya as the car moved into the busy roads.

“It will be a pretty interesting affair to know every bit of you Ma’am and I will definitely Love to know every single thing about.” He said with lips curved up into a perfect smile, eyes on the roads.

~~

At Ram’s Apartment.

“Wow! You have spent four thousand...one hundred…twenty six rupees RIGHT?” asked Vikram, “correct me if I am wrong?” he sounded annoyed.

“Yes!”

“Wow, not even a friend, she is already running you out of money?” He walked to his friend, “Ram.” Putting his hands on his shoulder Vikram said pretty soberly, “You hardly know this girl. I mean do you know anything about her? She works with you that’s it and you are falling for her madly. Isn’t it out of frustration or anything?”

“What do you want to say? Out of frustration. I had chance of doing everything  with that lady back in London you know that.” Ram sounded angry, Vikram tried to pacify but it is late, “No you listen to me. I never felt this click anytime. I can’t make you understand what I felt for her,  looking at her. The calmness she carries in her like a beauty, it soothes your eyes. I don’t know about any one, but it hit me like the cool breeze that I was waiting for long. Her smile I can’t tell you what hypnotic power she carries in it. Her hair, she dazzles in it. I will not say that she has the perfect attributes that we used to discuss in the college days, but she is a creation with God’s soul, that I felt; which I never felt!” said Ram looking aimlessly. 

“But..” Ram again stopped Vikram, “Look Vikram if you have a problem in helping me then don’t help me but dare you speak anything about Priya. If my decision my heart irritates you just leave!! JUST LEAVE”

“Okay I can see how frustrated you are!” Vikram shouted, “A girl will matter this much to you now?”

“Stop being melodramatic and you are insulting Priya anyways and I said you na, you can leave. I don’t need your help!!” Ram turned his back to Vikram. He never looked back until the sound of the door banging behind traveled to his ears. Ram never thought of ending up fighting with Vikram. He was that friend who stood by him in every ups and downs of his life. He was that friend who cheered and scolded him in his every success and every wrong decision. He is the one who cheered him up when he had face a little failure even. But he can’t forgive him for letting down Priya. May be he don’t know her that well or nothing about her but he has felt that click when he for the first time actually noticed her. There is no X factor in her physical appearance but  inside her heart. He felt that connection, and he don’t blame Vikram for not understanding him, but he can’t even forgive him for belittling her.

He sighed and checked few numbers from his contact list, who can help him out for finding Priya’s  number, but he end up finding no one eligible or suitable. With a deep sigh he threw himself to the couch. At the middle of the night he searched for cigarettes, the best possible worst way invented by human to exhaust the tension and boost up. There was none at his home and the only pack he had, been snatched away by Priya. He sat there and played with the lighter.

~~

“The cops must have reminded you of Amit right?” Neha giggled, while Priya shuffled through the television channels.

“Actually Yes!” said Priya under her laugh, “I still don’t believe that I survived that situation without getting my family involved.”

“And about the reason to get arrested, don’t you remember that?” Neha teased.

“How can I forget Amit, he is my first infatuation!” said Priya.

“Why? Do you think this Mr. Ram is also an infatuation?”

“I don’t know Neha” Sighed Priya switching off the television, “I wish I knew.” None of the girls spoke for a minute or two, breaking the silence Priya continued, “But today when he was asking for the number from me, I felt a connection; that I never felt with Amit. His eyes, he has such truth in it! Neha he could have taken me to the police station, get nervous and do anything, but he protected me like a gentleman.” Inclining back, Priya clasped her hands over her face, then shoving them along the hair to the back of her head she said, “I really wish I could know what is going inside his head!”

“And what’s going inside yours?” Neha stood up and locked the main door.

“That it is not an infatuation but….” Suddenly Priya stopped.

“But WHAT?” Neha demanded her to complete.

“But, a duffer like him, he is still in hunt of my number when he actually has my number! God why men are so dumb when it comes to girls?” annoyed Priya said.

“Howuuuu come?” Neha pulled the bean bag and sat in front of Priya.

“I called him when he was with the cop; he disconnected it with its first ring, and never bothered to call back.” Having Neha still unconvinced about what she spoke, Priya repeated, “I called from my second number, that I challenged him to find. I just tricked him saying that I have another number other than that I mentioned to the company.”

“And Exactly why?”

“Arey, if I didn’t trick him, he would have got the number just in seconds. Any one from HR department can provide him the same. I wanted to have some fun, adventure. I wanted to know, to which extent he can go for me.” Smiled Priya, but not for long, “But I think it is back firing to me only.”

“Okay Okay Now I get why you are sounding so frustrated, you really want to go for a date with him, right?” Neha asked while moving to the kitchen. “Which one, socha hain, dinner date or lunch date?”

“Not Date Neha!” retorted Priya.

“Then..”

“I want to know this man, I really want to know. I want to know that man, who has such truth in his eyes.” Priya corrected her friend.

“You know darling! You are already in love with him.” Neha patting her.

“I don’t know, but this is not infatuation!” replied Priya under her deep sigh, “I should go and sleep. Good Night!” Priya walked to her room, Neha smiled at her condition and wished her Sweet Dreams in return.

~~

Thoughts of Ram have so much pre-occupied Priya, she forgot to check her phone that evening. Lying down as she closed her eyes, a sudden tremor ached her heart, “What was there in the messages?” she thought. Taking the phone from the side table, she opened the inbox, scrolling down she found none to be so much indifferent, only one she found it to be out of the box. It read, “Priya I am sorry. I wntd 2 tl u hw beautfl u wr lukng I felt a click tht I nvr evr felt. I lyk u” . From the sms it was clear how sincerely he tried to manage and fit his words in one sms. She for next one hour read it on repeat mode, even after she memorized it along with its wrong punctuation even. “He thinks the same as I do” she said in her head. Her eyes gave up that night; the tiredness took the charge over her stamina, unknowingly and unwanted she fell asleep.

~~

With incomplete sleep, Priya had a bad headache; even she took a medicine that didn’t help her much. All through the day she was busy in the medical camp and other daily stuffs. None of those could be neglected or discarded. It made the situation even worse. Somehow she managed to adjust her lunch break half an hour earlier than others. So, before Ram she was there, occupying the farthest corner table on the floor. She kept on knocking her head softly on the table, which blocked her view.

“What Happened?” the familiar voice made her look up.

“Nothing! Sit.” Priya said, holding her head tight within her hands. “So work in progress?”

“Yes it is!” Ram said placing the food on the table, “You love south Indian dishes?”

“I hate it!”

“Sorry! I thought you will try something new. Let me check if there is anything…” Priya cuts in, “No need please sit back we have limited time and I want you to sit here. I will have it.”

“Why you want me to sit here?” with a mischievous smile Ram asked back.

“Look mister...” Priya leaned forward, “Unless and until you are getting my number and ask me for what you actually asked me yesterday, nothing is going to happen! Put this into your mind clear.”

“Work in Progress Ma’am” though Ram successfully hides how pathetically he is failing to compete against her flecked challenge.

“Okay! I am waiting for getting announced as winner! I can’t wait!” She took a bite from the idlis that lay on the table. “Oh! Wow, how do they manage to keep them so soft? Once only I had these kind of south Indian dishes when I was in std 8 I guess and that also in Chennai. Pretty good, do we have a south Indian cook?” asked Priya munching her food.

“I never checked with the canteen staff.” Annoyingly replied Ram.

“Don’t worry I will check it out!” she continued with the food, “I read your messages; there is nothing special I must say.”

“Hmmm…” came the reply from the man, who was trying to hide his rattled heart for failing hard in the challenge and wanting Priya to help him out.

Priya left few minutes earlier that day as a compensation for taking the lunch break earlier than others. After Priya left Ram kept of looking at the Dosa, which he like the most from the menu but didn’t have a single bite from it. It suddenly looked the most pale and tasteless dish to him.

~~

“So is this going to be your duty; every day?” asked Priya hopping into the car. “Mission accomplished?” she winked.

“Come on yaar I was in office and you expect me to investigate on you?” rebuked Ram. “I will get it ! Yes I will just watch out!”

“Okay so are you close to it?” suppressing laugh she asked. When Ram didn't reply she chose to add, “ Sir..” as she uttered the three letter word, the worst look fell like a lightning bolt on her, “Okay! Sorry, Ram; happy?” corrected Priya, that pacified Ram, “If you look up properly the number is quite close to you.”

“Means?”

“That’s your duty to find out, not mine!” Priya searched for something in her bag. The cigarette packet peeped out. Ram had bought two packs for safety this time, even if she hijacks one he will be well equipped with the other one; safe at home . “Oh! Your pack!” saying Priya put it on the dash board.

“I thought you are not going to give it back!” exclaimed Ram.

“I also thought so, but this evening when I saw you in the smoking zone, I changed my decision. Actually if you are not ready to quit, there is no use of doing all this. It will be a waste of time only and I am least interested in wasting my time.” Harshly she replied.

“I am sorry but…” Ram’s voice was dominated by the other speaker, “Don't be. If you are not aware of your health don’t feel sorry for anyone. Not even for the most important person of your life. Look Ram, I don’t believe in forcing people into something but I do believe if someone tries every problem has a solution, today even cancer also have a solution, only if you address it at the right time, yes there are always some exceptions. So don't be sorry to anyone if you are not feeling it wrong. If it is right for you, then it is always right!”

“You are really sounding upset Priya.” Ram tried to confront.

“No. I am not upset with you, why I should be? Who are you for me?” Priya looked at the deserted eyes. “ I prefer looking into the situation practically to emotionally. You can call it as a drawback. But yes from whom I expect they do upset me, they do raise my temper. Till now you and I are just having a professional relation, so there is only respect no expectation. And….” She stretched the last word till Ram looked at her, “If there grows any kind of expectation any day, you will get to know my anger, for sure.”

“Okay…” Ram smiled for what she said, “We are friends, I think. ”

“itni jaldi? You quit?” She tried not to sound upset.

“No I didn't. I just want you to know we share something more than professional relation which can be termed as friendship!” He looked to observe her, she is definitely upset, “And your expression is telling the story.” Priya didn't respond back, “And I will find out the number! Forget about coffee tomorrow we are going for a date, sharp at 9 am I will pick you up.” Pronounced Ram.

“Who the hell goes for a date at 9 am???” awkward annoyance prevailed in her voice, “And what we will get open then?”

“That’s my problem; you just get ready to lose.” He smiled broad.

“Duffer!”Priya said in her head, “Idiot can't even read that how desperately I want him to win. I just don't remember when I was so desperate last time!” She smiled, “When someone can't get the apple served on platter, how can I expect him to win?”

The car came to a halt in front of the society's gate. “What do you mean?”

“I made this clearer to you Mr. Ram Kapoor, you are so close to it but yet you can't sense it! I have not seen such a …” Sense of annoyance is clear in her voice.

“Priya!” called Ram.

“Good Night Mr. Kapoor. I think you have lost it! Bye.” She walked turning her ears deaf to him.

~~

Still in his office clothes, Ram sipped into the 3^rd peg he made. Priya’s riddles are quite difficult to  crack, he thought. Since the challenge, his progress is zero. Only person who could help him, Vikram, has done enough to aggravate him. He can't forgive him for what he said. But, what he will do now? How can he get the number he thought and what exactly Priya was trying to tell him? He quickly opened up his email and checked every mail that Priya sent him, none of any use. She will not disclose her number to everyone, none of the mail has been sent only to him, all the heads or more than one person is included in the mail. Even he thought she would have marked Bcc to the President Luis Lu. So the chance that he took or guessed was baseless and useless. He then checked his mobile, scrolling down he tried to find out if there is any miss call or message from any unknown number, but there was none. “Shit!” he uttered, then he remembers every day he has a schedule to sweep off all the unknown numbers from mobile's call log. He cursed himself, if she has given the hint yesterday he thought. Shit Yaar he scolded himself. “I should beg for the number only this is left!!” said Ram under his deep sigh.

~~

“So did he get it?” Neha asked clearing the dine.

“He is the biggest duffer, idiot, I have ever seen in my life!” Priya’s frustration is clear in her voice. “I am so disgusted to think how can a man who is so immensely successful in his professional life, is just such a dumb in real life!”

“I tell you, you are his first crush!” Neha jerked Priya holding her from behind, “Cheer Up! He has a beautiful heart I am sure.”

“What should I do?” like a five year old Priya looked to Neha, her sudden mentor, for help.

“Do you really want to go out?”

“Yes.”

“Then call him, curse him and speak out your heart and disconnect then wait for his response.” Advised Neha.

“Will that work?” Priya asked little unsure.

“Try me Baby!!” winked back Neha.

~~

Already two guys had spitted at Ram and three women have warned him for his nonsense. Fourteen times he ended up nowhere. That number combination doesn’t exist. He pulled out his tie and was about to dial another number combination, his personal number buzzed with an unknown number. Little nervous he said “Yes. Who's this?”

“You are the biggest idiot I have ever met and will remain the biggest till my last breath duffer!!!” Priya almost shouted coming out of the phone.

“ Priya are you okay?” Ram said concern, “why are you shouting?”

“Ah! How can I expect anything else from this duffer!!! You know something; I shouldn't have called you. Actually you declared your loss and we are friends. Mr. Ram Kapoor we are over. GOODBYE!” Priya disconnected the call.

“What I did?” Like a moron idiot Ram asked himself, “OH!” he shouted next, “ Fuck.. fuck..fuck..” he stomped his feet. Hurrying he called back Priya. When it was about to go unanswered, she actually answered, “NOW WHAT!!!” again she shouted right into his ears.

“Why you are angry? I know I am idiot!” said Ram very politely.

“OH REALLY! HAPPY REALIZATION.” Priya’s torment continued.

“I am sorry.” Ram hoped for her to get little calm, “I am sorry Priya. I am really really really sorry swe…” he corrected himself at the right moment. “Priya.” With her mad over him for going blank when she actually called from the other end, he wanted to pacify her first. A little nuisance can go against him. “Please calm down. I know I am very poor when it comes to girl and when it is you, I get super nervous and when you called, just before then, few people had already spitted at me, and….”

“Wait a minute.” Priya cuts in asking, “Did you really permute and commute?”

“Yes”

“I don't believe this!” Priya started laughing uncontrollably.

“Don't laugh yaar. I have no other options left with me.” Child like sadness was rendering  his voice.

“Aww! Poor Baby!” Priya teased him.

“What did you say just?” smiled Ram, which she can feelright then sitting few kilometers away from him.

“Nothing! Do you have anything to say or ask for?” the open invitation from her end made Ram smile.

“Ya two things actually.” Ram started, “First why did you challenge me if you were going to give me the number on your own? Second, will you go out for a date with me tomorrow from breakfast to dinner?”

There was a serene silence for a moment, which they enjoyed thoroughly. Breaking the ice, Priya added, “First I wanted to check your common sense. Having three numbers now, for a non resident of the capital is not easy. So I never had a third number, I lied to you. I wanted to check how adventurous you can be; which you really are because you dared to call random peoples. So you passed in the latter but failed in the first horribly.” She took a little pause before continuing, “And…” under her deep sigh she added, “Second; you answer me should I go out with a man with zero common sense?”

“Yes you should.” Ram smiled.

“Explain please why?”

“Because people with common sense are pretty common, you can find two are three out of every three. But crazy people like me; you will find only one in a million.” Victoriously Ram declared. 

“Yes” she answered before disconnecting the call. Her heart thumped against the rib cage like that crazy beast who wants to breathe the fresh air, leaving the cage behind. There, Ram smiled to himself, the sudden peace that conquered him never dwelt before.

Until We meet .... 

Love 

NB