I hate love stories

This is a new series that we are starting up on our blog. As cliché as it may sound, I am going to call it "I hate love stories". This by no means is associated with that movie and no I don't hate sonam kapoor. Getting back to this topic...

The next post will feature one of these these stories. They are all short and bitter.

Why didn't the evil sisters blog for so long?

It wasn't menopause, it was an extremely stressful year. We turned older and wiser this year. We have missed out on life and finally I hear it calling!

Adish & Akanksha Part 2

It was Akanksha who was restless to get out of the relationship.

She stood there, waiting for him to leave. He walked out.

She sighed and turned in the direction she'd seen him standing in. And that moment, their eyes met.

Through the haze of coloured lights and the pungent smell of sweat and they stood facing each other.


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It so happens that the scenes we have seen in every love story or a high school musical… It so happens that a moment comes by when time stops and so does everybody else….It so happens that when you kiss someone, life goes in slow mo...It so happens that all of these nudges, kisses and hugs that we have seen, been bored by or secretly wished for… seem to be drawn from our very own lives.


Amidst the haze of neon green, laser blue and electric orange they shared a kaleidoscope of moments and a plethora of emotions. While the snippets of what they shared were different, the memory remained.

What also remained was an inadmissible desire to feel what they had only felt with each other.


Millions of us wait to tell the stories of how they met their spouse, their girlfriends or even their one night stands.

And here is another one.

It was on yet another nameless Wednesday evening when Adish made his way into a café which offered happy hours for a drink with his ‘colleagues’.

Adish never managed to call them friends, you know those people who encourage you to gulp down ten shots of tequila, who bail you out of an office crisis or tell you the experience of their colonoscopy.

Aha (real name Ahaana), a friend called Max (coz he maxed out on his credit cards, real name not important) and his dog Chintamani (a shar pei who took all his worries and all his wrinkles) are those who managed to fit the bill.

Dressed in his crinkled formals, he gobbled up his second drink and spoke to his three other friendly colleagues about their new client. (A 50 something divorced diva) whose social calendar & demands for peonies and ponies were driving them up a wall.

A frustrated Aisha ended a call and said “Can you believe her cheek? She made her assistant call me up to discuss her guest list, the wait list and the seating chart. I mean I just left work…Such people called for a French revolution.”

A very suave yet adorably addict of Harry Potter, Jai, seconded her -“Aye aye officer, she deserves a Avada Kedavra”

As Adish laughed with his happy threesome, Akanksha made her way to Adish’s table.

Dressed in a dark blue straight fitted jeans with a tee shirt that said “Don’t bother, you’ll never get your hands on these”, she sported a streak of pink in her pixie cut black hair.

With an “I can do anything I want” look on her face, she pulled up her arms on her waist and spoke with an authority that no stranger usually sports.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Right here…and you?”

“Following you, dam nit you really think I am a cheap floozy that you’re just going to abandon me after a night of pure pleasure?”

“How awesome was it for you?”

“So awesome that it made me add salt to my coffee and call my boyfriend by your name….Err…What exactly might that be?”

He looked at this gorgeous girl whom he had never met and wondered how much time of his had gone to waste. He smiled and said “Adish. Did I really make you go weak in the knees?”

“I am pretty sure you will. Let’s find out, shall we?” pointing out to the empty dance floor.

While Aisha, Jai and Aijaaz (who hadn't said a word except a swear word) gaped at Adish who was expected to sneer at attempts by girls who wanted to be his friend and more.

“You know Akanksha…”

“How do you know my name?”

“Last night didn’t make me go weak in the knees so I remember most of what never happened.”

She laughed and said-“Well, let’s hope this dance is a start” .

Leaving him standing on the dance floor, she went and whispered a song name into the DJ’s ears while most of the spectators wondered how they managed to get hammered at 9 p.m.

“You know Adish, I am a die-hard romantic and I think it's all about making the perfect moments... And to share a perfect moment with a beautiful stranger, I think it has a lot to do with a song which will make you remember or forget."

“Oh, I am definitely not going to forget you. And for the sake of all the pain you went through, I hopelessly hope that this is the song you wanted.”

And as they both enjoyed this lingering moment where time stood still, they swayed while Chris Isaac sang of the wicked games people play.

Adish & Akanksha Part 1

Adish ran out of cigarettes. Note to self, he thought, "Don't enter parties you hate, without a sedative."Exhaling with frustration, he looked around at the dimly lit lounge bar he was standing in.

One of the cities most popular places, he looked at the people who had nothing better to do attend this party…his party.Oh that was the reason he was there.

One of his associates walked over to him, with the usual handshake and half hug, feeling the fabric of his jacket and asked him-"And to which label do we along today Adish..." Adish replied-"I'm not comfortable with labels."

Leaving a disgruntled Jai behind, he walked out of the pub. He knew Jai wouldn't make much of it. That's the good thing about guys. They don't think as much as girls.Adish had the habit of speaking his mind to people at the wrong time, to those who knew very little of him, at places it didn't matter.He crossed the street and asked for the nearest packet. At the age of twenty-nine, he had not yet reached a comfort level with labels.

Straight.
Gay.
Bisexual
Transgender.

It didn’t matter.

He had been in many relationships, numbers were long forgotten. The real ones were remembered. He had immersed himself within the ying and the yang. His passion knew no limits, gender was not his concern.Immerse yourself inside the other, like there's no tomorrow.

It had cost him a lot of think like this.

And there she was, getting out of her car. Akanksha had never learnt how to drive. She had always been scared, too scared of running over a pedestrian over, too absorbed in her thoughts to look what’s coming ahead.

Sashaying her figure that belonged to the ramp which didn’t end where it belonged, she wore a gray dress which carefully revealed her prized features. With those never ending toned legs, a uniquely shaped back and a long stemmed neck, she treaded her path with her brave face.

Perfection was what came to his mind.

"F****** shit" was what came out of his mouth. Extinguishing his half-finished cigarette, he went inside after her...But wait, would she be happy to see him?He felt his car keys in his pocket but he couldn't leave. This was work.

She probably wouldn't even notice...thanks, to the dim lights, over two hundred people and a whole lot of booze.And so he went inside.

Sometimes, you can’t explain it, not even to yourself.He felt an urgency to talk to her, to let her know that he thinks of her, something that he would never admit, not even to himself. But the immense fear of being disappointed when she would see him, made him stop.

Could this evening get worse?!? It so happens, that defeatism often gives way to audacity. After waking moments of disappointment and pain, come guts and stupidity wherein you let go of all that you care of, and react to an impulse that you meant to kill a long time ago.But no, he decided it wouldn't be wise to approach her.

Not like this.

Making his way to the bar, something he should have done a while ago, he got himself a peg of his favourite scotch.Midway through his drink, Jai put a hand on his shoulder-"Listen I know this isn't your favourite place to be, but you got to mingle buddy. We've been counting on you to bring all your charm to maintain such an extensive clientele.Most of them have asked for you, including some good looking broads..."Adish nodded..."I'll straighten up…give me a minute."

Gulping down his drink, he ran his fingers through his hair, ready to win a few many hearts and fewer accounts.Adish had his own way of making it through to people.There were many who loathed him, just like all of us are, his arrogance and his conviction that came runningly evident, made some nauseous.

If one were to describe him physically, he wouldn't be striking to many.An average height of 5'11 with a wheatish complexion, chiselled features and a prominent jaw line , he usually sported a three day old beard.To some, he always looked tired. He looked tired of good sex or an extra-ordinary full life. The irony was that he thought his life was an absolute opposite.But what did stand out, was his remarkable walk. It was always daring yet aimless, that of a wanderer in a quest of whatever.

While he continued to grab the attention of some women around him, some who came with their spouse, he did business, taking care of their needs.Those who would look at him closely, would notice that while Adish smiled making conversation with those around him, his smile never reached his eyes.

And she stood there, watching him; making his way to people she could barely know well as he could. Akanksha knew there'd be a chance of meeting him, she didn’t want to take any chances.
This is why she wore her Prada which recently cost her half her salary.She checks her reflection in the mirror top of the table she's standing on.

She wishes he would look at her. She wishes he'd touch her.She turns away, afraid that someone would read her thoughts.

It was Akanksha who was restless to get out of the relationship. It was nothing that became something plausible, a cause that would give her sleepless nights. She had given it enough yet never felt the same from him.It had gone on in a direction where there nothing remained in their relationship.

It was Adish who had called it off."Have the guts to say what you want. If you don't, I 'll do it for you...."After listening to Adish telling her he'd do anything to keep her, she knew she had had enough.She stood there, waiting for him to leave. He walked out.

It took her a week to get out of bed. It took her a month to go back to work.Someone asks why it failed, she pauses…"Sometimes, all you wants is for someone to want you back as much as you do. And when it goes away, you feel it. I felt it...and I decided to go away."

From being pursued to falling in love with Adish, it was all his doing. She was just left to follow him, to be swept off her feet.She did.

As her expectations came crashing down, so did their relationship.

Akanksha never bothered telling him all of this.Taking a sip her Chardonnay, Akanksha wondered if she ever made him happy.

She sighed and turned in the direction she'd seen him standing in.And that moment, their eyes met.

She could feel his eyes on her, through the haze of coloured lights, the pungent smell of sweat and smell, they stood facing each other.

Single & Ready to Mingle- Part 1

Dedicated to all the girls looking for love...And to all the not-so-right boys.

In a mind that is as dilapidated as a cement covered building of our rural landscape, sits a dust covered table, full of mismatched ideas, unreasoned lust and unfulfilled dreams. From the to-do list which has now extended to the foot of the table, lies a pumping desire to find true love with some sense and a trust fund.

And as time approached her, this desire took her mind and her mouth.



Wherever she went, whenever she spoke, she spoke of the upcoming attraction of the week. Trained in cooking, china patterns and threading, she was all set to tread the following path carefully.The path that intersected with her parent's desires and society's conventions...She decided to go for an arranged meeting set up with a boy she hadn't heard of.



When her friends ask her his name, she said she didn't bother to ask. She always had a habit of judging too quickly....After a nasty betrayal by the boy she had loved for six years, she had survived-brutally battered with a medical condition lasting a lifetime, she survived. Thankful to her carefully knit circle of friends and work, she managed to keep herself busy.



After two years, she had decided to meet a boy set up by an aunt. After a week of re-scheduling, they meet in Hyatt Hotel, a location decided by the potential boy-to-be. As she is carefully guided by friends and parents who know her too well to just give this boy a chance. So she dresses casually yet carefully nudging her mind to stay in it's dusty dilapidated state.



Far from a gush of an adrenaline running through her veins, a bunch of butterflies take over her stomach, she can't help herself in thinking how this might be interesting guy...Sensible yet sensitive, practical yet emotional, a decent personality and a bank balance minus any qualms about his golden status.



Calm...confident...Definately suave...



She pauses on her daydream as a balding man who looks like he is almost thirty wearing a suit made of velvet and an open buttoned shirt approaching her table.

'Oh god, there must be a mistake' she thinks to herself. But as God suddenly got back his sense of humour, he is the guy she is here to meet.



She is barely able to re-group as she fake smiles her way through and pretends to look for blends of coffee. As there is definite screaming in her head, he breaks the silence by asking her if she's ever been to Hyatt. When she says only twice, he takes an opportunity to rub in how cool he is about coming to a posh five star restaurant twice a week. From how many times she has gone "abroad" to how he thinks gold is the new platinum.



As she subtly puts the idea of the right guy back on the torn sheet of paper, the one cup of cafe latte' doesn't seem to finish and neither does he...From telling her how rich people go to the UK for post graduation to subtly asking how much she makes a month...Thoughts like sexy, suave and subtle make her kick the coffee table.



Ending his monologue with another fake smile, he waves at the waiter asking for the bill certifying money well wasted. Despite his exaggerated excerpts about his import-export business, she decides to pay for her half finished coffee and his much needed cup of green tea.

"Oh no no how can I let you pay" he says..."It's really all right"- she replies. Reeking of put on humility, he decides to dutch.



Letting her pay a few hundreds, he decides to ask her for his half.



Real subtle.



As she drags her bottom and steps into her car, she is thankful for the not-so-happy ending, breathless at the long journey that was coming her way.