Chapter-9

The east side had bright sporadic gleams of the sun when Ranveer looped over his bed, throwing his blanket down, cursing him for being bad in front of Ishani. Three days after the incident and he is ashamed that even after controlling so much he wasn't able to stop drinking alcohol. Getting the same old comments from her has become mundane nowadays though he tries to avoid it to the maximum. He has never felt so helpless in his life, according to him. Getting up from his bed, slowly and sadly, he sat down, rubbing his eyes and yawning hardly. Sleep was not a big deal for him, not at all. For him, two hours of sleep a day is sufficient nowadays yet he does not have the answer for it as to why should one sleep only for two hours.

Looking at the clock and the window, back and fro, he clashed back to his pillow, his back hitting the bed and his eyes facing the ceiling. According to him, the ceiling sounds soothing than Ishani's sad words. He felt really bad for Ishani. She was the only girl who cared for him and even though he is happy about it, he doesn't get the real reason for him drinking. With another few more days for a big day, he wanted to change...a real change.

The clock struck seven when he heard Ishani coming towards his room, humming the favourite tune of hers. With clinking sounds heard by him, he saw himself before a happy Ishani who had worn a beautiful knee length frock, its beads making the clinking effects. According to him, the sun was less bright today as compared to her.

"How's it?" she asked, chirping when Ranveer smiled his back still attached to his bed, "You look gorgeous. Did you like it?"

"Of course, Ranveer. I love this! This is so good, I must say. Having said it to be your choice, I admire it even more." Ishani smiled, her cheeks turning to the lightest shade of red when Ranveer called her inside, still laying down on the bed.

"Aren't you getting ready for the office? It's seven! I won't take much of time in dressing back to formals." Ishani asked him when he carelessly smiled "You are going to wear this dress for the weekend. Okay?" he turned back to the window, the sun peeking out giving its brightest of sparkle.

"Ranveer? What's wrong with you?" she got up, "I told you, I am wearing this dress for the weekend!" she said and moved forward, blocking his vision at the sun "I asked you something."

"What do you want now?" he asked, frustrated when Ishani knelt down and touched him softly saying "Ranveer, I am sorry. I shouldn't have scolded you and called you lazy and a drunkard. But tell me, if you are going to drink the same way every day and night, who will take care of you?"

"Huh? Who? I know. There's no one for me in this world. No one. Plus, I am trying to go away from alcohol, Ishani. I am finding it really hard."

"Who said that there is no one for you, Ranveer? You have me beside you. Didn't I promise you that I will be here beside you till my death?" she asked, ruffling his hair when he turned back hastily away from her.

"Ranveer...stop doing this."

"No, Ishani. I have hurt you. I am a coward, good for nothing." Ranveer said silently, slow sniffs from his nose. Ishani sighed out and called him again when he said "I will not drink anymore, Ishani. Trust me." Ranveer turned back and made a sorry face when Ishani smiled at him and said "That's good. Now it's getting late...We gotta get back to work."

"No. I am not coming to the office today." Ranveer said, wiping his tears.

"Not coming? Why?"

"Ishani, I want to spend some time on myself. I am not coming today. Sorry." Ranveer replied back and turned away from her when Ishani said "Okay. I will place your breakfast on the table. Please have them, alright?"

"Yeah." a mellowed voice was heard by her as she left the room, the clinking sound still heard by him as he turned back to his original posture, gazing the same ceiling. Life was never so cruel towards him.

Three hours by now, he was still in the same position sans any thoughts running over his mind. The breakfast which was kept for him was already cold enough to eat it as a dessert whilst Ranveer was still gazing at the same ceiling until he was disturbed by the buzz of his phone.

Ishani.

He tched' and took the phone answering a bare hello for hers. "What happened?" his voice was not in a mood to talk with anyone. Not even Ishani.

"Did you have the breakfast?"

"Yet to have." Ranveer replied curtly.

"When have you planned to have it?"

"Not very soon. Why?"

"Ranveer...what is wrong with you?" Ishani asked when she heard him answer back "Everything."

"Everything?" she asked again when he answered "Everything is wrong with me Ishani, right? I drink, I cry, I waste time, I am lazy and what not?" he gave boring answers when Ishani stopped him and said "Will you stop doing this? Now get up, have your bath and eat your food. I'll call you again. Did you get it?"

"Let's see."

"I'll call you and I bet on that. Another thirty minutes and your phone will ring again."

"Ishani..." he tried to explain but then it was too late when she had already hung up the phone. He cussed himself and got up from the bed for his daily routine now. Coming out from his wash after twenty minutes, he saw himself in the mirror when he heard her voice, again. Three weeks back, he remembered the same voice talking with him. Turning swiftly, he searched for her to see a shadow of hers. Shadow...that was her attire' this time.

"Ishani?" he quickly recognised her and followed the shadow when he heard "Not bad...you found me!"

"Ishani...is that you?" his happiness grew no bounds when he saw her when she replied "No...It's her soul talking with you."

"Soul?" he stood shell shocked as he saw her moving forward towards him as she said "Sit down, Ranveer." Obeying her words, he sat down, looking at her, though he wasn't able to see her face clearly.

"Ranveer..." she caressed his cheeks "do you remember me?"

"Of...of course, Ishani..." Ranveer said, happy tears rolling sown from his eyes when she continued "Do you remember something about us?"

"About us?" he looked at her confused when she whispered closely "close your eyes." Closing his eyes he heard her say "Stay calm and quiet. I am taking you to a place." Ranveer was thrilled as he prepared himself for it. Life for him was an utter waste except for Ishani.

He closed his eyes until she asked him to open them. The only thing he felt was the cool breeze and fresh air to breathe. Doubting it to be the beach, he interrupted "The beach?"

"Shh" he heard her say while she continued "Open your eyes, now."

He opened them to see rocks and water. There were stalls here and there with the aroma of fresh tea and samosas and the entire surrounding was fully shielded with water and fresh breeze. But there were none to watch the beauty.

"Do you remember this place?"

"Why do I feel that I have a strong connection with this place, Ishani?"

"Ranveer...Just close your eyes. Take in the surroundings and feel. You will understand. There is something striking with this place...Just feel it and you'll know it. Whilst Ranveer just listened to her words and took in when she asked "did you feel something special? Did you remember the fun we had? The place?"

"Ishani...is- is it the Marine Drive?" Ranveer asked doubtfully when she smiled overwhelmingly, "It is, Ranveer. How is it feeling to be in this place, again?"

"It's...it's surreal, Ishani." Ranveer opened his eyes and looked at the shadow like soul of hers when she said "Ranveer, will you gift me this place, again? I want to have the same fun. Will you?"

"Ishani? Gift you this place? How will I? And why should I?"

"Ranveer..." he saw her sitting opposite to him, "please...I want to go back to our old days. Please take me here, someday."

"Why should I?" he asked her, confused when she came forward to him, their lips an inch away from each other, "Ranveer, I want this to be my gift...hope you get it." Ranveer saw her winking, though he wasn't able to see her face clearly.

"Gift? Oh yeah, I do." Ranveer said and looked at her when he asked "Do you love me?"

"Why do ask this now?" he heard her ask when he said, "Just like...I wanted to know it. I am afraid to share my feelings to you."

"Well, what do you think?" she asked him, their lips still an inch away from each other.

"Ishani, I don't know about you...But I love you." Ranveer said as his eyes glistened, reflecting trust, love, faith and affection- all at the same time.

He saw her coming forward, her lips away from his, by half an inch. She whispered, "Confess it then."

"What?"

"Confess it Ranveer, I will reciprocate my feelings on that day. Well, if you have little brains, you would have cracked it long back." she chuckled, her fresh breathe was smelled by him when he said "I did. I just did."

"What? Confession?"

"Yeah." Ranveer blinked when she said "You confessed it to her soul. When will you confess it to me directly?"

"I will, Ishani." Ranveer smiled at her when she brushed her lips slightly against his and smiled, ripping off to shreds. He purred in pleasure and chuckled when reality slapped his cheeks hard.

"Ishani!" he shouted when he heard the phone buzz again. It was her, again.

Sometimes, it is good to be in the same dream world, sans any tensions and worries, Ranveer felt.

Done. Constructive Criticism is more than welcome and sorry for typos. :D