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.