"I Lost Myself, Loving Her" (003)

 

"Hey, batauuu... is my voice audible? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Mr. Champuuuuuu! Tell me, what happened? Why were you late for the gym today? And why were you staring at that girl at the gym?"

I chuckled, letting out a small glitter of laughter. "Oh, the girl I was looking at? She was so sweet, just gorgeous! Do you know why she puts on makeup before coming to the gym? Just to impress me!"

She burst out laughing. "Then that girl must be mental if she's trying to impress you! Actually, I think she doesn't know a thing about you. If she did, she'd save her money on cosmetics because you get impressed just by eyes!"

I laughed. "So, please help her understand this. Or help me to—"

"Ezzzzzz!" she interrupted, her voice carrying a hint of possessiveness. Then she changed the topic. "By the way, why did you call me? What’s the work?"

I smirked. "Oye, this was my work! I just love her. Please try to help me get in contact with her. She looks amazing."

"Just wait, I'll come there and put my heavy legs on your neck!" she retorted, laughing.

I let out a playful laugh and continued, "Actually, I had an event in Rajasthan, in Udaipur."

She paused for a second, then her voice lit up with excitement. She knew how much I loved traveling, experiencing new places, and the thrill of new destinations. She was one of those rare people who got happier seeing me happy.

She thought for a moment before saying, "You know, if you're going to Udaipur, you have a chance to visit Ajmer. We believe in the shrine there a lot—it's one of the holiest places. Whenever I pray for something there, it somehow gets fulfilled. You should visit."

"Of course! If you believe in it, I should too. It would be a blessing to have the chance to pray for you. Just tell me the exact location."

"Ajmer, Rajasthan—Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah."

I immediately recalled her telling me about this before. I had always wanted to visit this place. I smiled to myself. "I’m the luckiest person to have this chance."

"Oye, Champuuuuu! Where did you get lost? The call isn’t cut yet. Don’t start daydreaming about that gym girl!"

"Oh, haan! I was just imagining her eyes, her eyelashes, and how she’d get shy if I told her."

"Okay, then call her! I don’t have time for your nonsense right now. I have to visit college in Sangli. I miss Mansi, yaar. I have to go alone now. Her company was full of happiness; she was the best gift I ever got. After marriage, she doesn’t even have time to call me."

"Hey, let it be. What are you doing today at 12 noon?" Simran asked.

"I’m free, but I was planning to rest."

"Can you come to my college with me? I feel lonely. Your company makes me more confident and happy. Please, try this for me. Today is my research paper submission."

I grinned. "Yes, I’ll come. I’m always excited to meet you. I like spending time with you—sharing things, sipping tea, having snacks together."

"Hey! I don’t care about anything. You are coming, and that’s my order!"

I laughed. "Okay, but I’m only coming if you offer me vadapav and dabeli!"

She accepted and I immediately played a song on home theater—Kiska hai ye tumko intezar, main hoon na…

This song had a way of lifting my mood. Simran and music—both had the talent to turn my day around. I was happy, not just for the treat, but because I was going to share this time with her.

—

"Hey, can you please let me inside the college?"

"No. First, show your identity card."

"Sorry, but I forgot it at home. Please, allow me—"

Before I could finish, Simran spotted me. She quickly intervened, lying to the security guard. "Sir, he’s with me. We have our submission today. Please let us in."

The security guard hesitated but eventually let us pass. We walked into an empty classroom, the air thick with dust and the benches old and damaged. It was ironic how this was one of the most famous colleges in Sangli.

I turned to her. "So, tell me, why did you really call me here? What about your submission?"

She smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "There’s no submission. I just wanted to meet you. I needed an excuse because my family only lets me go out for college purposes. So I made up this reason."

I shook my head, laughing. "Unbelievable!"

She knew me in ways no one else did. She knew how to make me feel special, how to pull me out of my thoughts, how to fill my moments with laughter. She was the kind of friend people wish for—a constant presence, someone who understood me without words.

We ended up joking around, playfully arguing. After a while, we stepped out to eat vadapav and dabeli. She paid the bill, even though I insisted. She was happy when she got to pay for me—it made her feel good.

She handed me her pink-colored water bottle, the one I always liked drinking from. It was such a small thing, yet it made me happy. That bottle held so many memories—our long conversations, our shared laughter, and the comfort of having someone who truly cared.

"Come with me on my Activa from Sangli to Miraj," I insisted.

She hesitated. "No way! My uncles—Haider and Malik—are the dons of Miraj! Everyone in our community knows them. If they see me with a guy, I’m finished."

I grinned. "Scared?"

"Oye! I’m not scared. But I’d rather take an auto."

She stopped an auto, and I watched as she rode away. The whole way, I kept thinking about how much I enjoyed her company. Meeting her always filled my day with happiness.

Later that afternoon, I met Shubham Sondkar after lunch—a lunch made with Mom’s love, full of traditional Maharashtrian flavors. Shubham and I headed to Sangli just for the famous Bournvita drink.

Shubham, or Sondkar as we called him, was a unique friend. He wasn’t physically strong, but mentally, he had the sharpest business mind. A die-hard cricket fan, especially of Rohit Sharma—the Hitman. His knowledge of cricket history was unmatched. He wasn’t the brightest in academics, but when it came to cricket, he was a genius.

We, the three idiots—me, Popo, and Sondkar—ended the day with laughter, chai, and the comfort of friendship.

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