Days were getting monotonous and life felt entirely mechanical, with my emotions weighed down by unexplained thoughts. Then one day, a message appeared in my inbox about a short story I had written a month back on an online portal. It began with a catchy phrase that instantly grabbed my attention, leaving me smiling to myself. After a long chain of thoughts, I finally corrected the mistake I had made earlier in the story, and I felt genuinely happy about it.
I thought of conveying my gratitude for pointing out the mistake, but later changed my mind since I don’t know anything about the person. He might be a boy or man trying to get my attention for all those unwanted things that are happening all around the internet. I stayed quiet, but a part of me still wanted to say thank you.
After an hour or so, I told myself, ‘ I'll see what happens when I get there.’
Gathering all courage, I finally sent him a message.
“Thanks.”
But he hadn’t seen it yet. I waited for a while, hoping for a reply.
‘Why isn’t this guy online? Maybe he’s just a time-pass guy,’ I kept repeating in my mind.
‘Whatever… He pointed out my mistake, and I thanked him. That’s all.’ Chapter closed.
Saying that to myself, I switched off my phone and walked away.
But…
Two days later, a message from him appeared in my inbox. “Is that all? Just ‘thanks’?”
‘For now, that’s enough.’
With that thought, I sent a smile emoji and walked away. And just like that, I got busy with my work and everyday life.
After two days or so, I had an urge to open my inbox and found his reply.
“Madamji.. You might think that I'm trying to hit on you. But my interest is, I found your story randomly on this page. I liked the writing very much, but there is something missing in the story. If you can get that right, your writing will be just as good as your thoughts. I’m a small storyteller and write only occasionally. If you’re interested,I can help you write stories with the exact essence you felt in your mind. Please feel free to contact me here.”
“How did he know my thoughts? How can he say that my story doesn’t have the essence I felt in my heart? But what if he’s telling the truth? Shall I contact him right away?’ I was lost in my thoughts.
As the war approached an end between my thoughts and heart, I went for what the heart said, ‘Just do it and wait for the magic to happen.’
I replied to him back, “Little did I know my stories are read here by someone who doesn’t know me well. But one thing is right, the story sometimes doesn’t have the essence. But thank you for your kind words and I’m interested in your proposal. Let’s see what you’ve in mind for me.”
After pressing the send button, I was more than relieved in my heart. I waited an hour for his reply. Since he didn’t reply, I logged out and got back to my routine.
Somewhere in my mind I was waiting for his reply. Since I couldn't control the urge, I logged in back after three hours. There I found his reply and I was more than happy.
“So Madamji.. First thing, we can remain strangers and don’t have to share any personal information. My idea is to make you write a book, which has been a long-back wish of yours, and we will certainly try to achieve it with your wonderful storytelling skill. So let’s rock Madamji. I will call you by this name and you call me whatever you wish.”
Hey, Mr. Stranger…
Please don’t call me Madamji. It sounds a little strange to me. So, you can call me
Janki.
And I would also like to give you a new name.
“Raam.”
“Sorry, Janki.. I can’t be Raam. If you want, you can call me Raavan.”
“What…?”
“Does a name like that even exist?”
“Yes, it does. He is the Raavan of Kaliyug, someone who thinks good things for the world.”
“Oh, leave all that… Janki Let’s come to the point.
So, are we friends?”
“Yes…
I like this Raavan. As my best friend forever ”
Hearing this , they both started laughing together.
I genuinely liked his reply and wanted to give him a personal name only I could call him. After a lot of thought, I ended up giving him the name 'Raavan'. I was happy and at the same time, was ready to reply with the exact emotion I felt. I replied to him with the name I had chosen for him. Since he was online, he replied instantly, saying that he liked it very much and would keep that name alive until his last breath. I was very much relieved and happy with his reply, and thus began our journey in the world of writing.
Whenever I got an idea of a story, the first person who came to my mind was him. When I shared the same, he genuinely added information about how to make it look like a complete story. As I got the right idea, I applied that to the story and found it very interesting. His motivation level was so cool and tempting that I ended up writing a lot of one-liners into short story versions. As I completed writing fifty short stories, he suggested I compile them into a published book under my own name. I was in fear of the thought about the book and couldn’t convey my thoughts about the same with him.
When I was lost in thoughts, he said, “Don’t worry. I’m right beside you, and I will always be true to the name you gave me.”
He kept each and every word he said to me and I would cherish the moments when he made me feel youthful in a way I hadn't since childhood. Once in a while, he would go offline for two or three days saying he is traveling to places he felt like going. In this meantime, our friendship grew to an extent where I believed him truly and gave him my number. But he never attempted to call. Then, one day when I felt low and broken, I told him how I was feeling. The very next second, my phone rang, it was him, showing me the wonderful view of the place he had visited the week before. I was instantly recharged, feeling youthful again. After that incident, I was also part of his journey with him sharing photos and videos. Sometimes he might video call me to see the beauty right in front of my eyes, and felt like I was beside him at that exact moment. He never showed his face on any of our calls, but one day, I accidentally caught a glimpse of him in a mirror and felt so happy. My mind was full of arguments to ask to see him in person. But I knew my limits and couldn’t bring myself to say it to him.
One fine day, he told me that he had published the book compiling the short stories. Today he is going for a trip and will send it to me the day after his return and will reach me in two or three days. When I heard the news, I was on cloud nine. I wished good luck on his trip.
Two days later in the morning, he told me to pick up the call from whoever might call. I asked why, but he kept saying just do it. I told him, “I will kill you if something is fishy.“ He laughed and said,
"Will you do it in person? I might get a chance to see you."
“Ha ha ha. Nice joke,” I replied.
“Not a joke. I wish to see you,” he whispered in a low voice.
But I heard it clearly. I couldn't tell him or react to it, since I also wished the same.
An hour or so later, I received a call from an unknown number. When I picked it up, the person on the other end said he was at the front gate of my office and asked me to collect a courier. Since I hadn't ordered anything, my immediate thought was whether he had sent me my book. I was literally running to the front gate, and a courier dressed up guy looking to the other side.
When I called him, he turned around. The moment I saw him, shock washed over me and tears welled up in my eyes. It was Mitra, he had come all this way just to hand me the book in person. I was going to fall down, when he came to my side putting his hands in my wrists saying,
“Janki “.. What happened? I thought you would be happy to see your book. So I came to give it to you in person and experience the moment with my own eyes.”
“Why.. Why didn’t you tell me you’re coming?”
“I wanted to surprise you and see my friend is okay with the new title of a writer, in person and experience the beauty of the moment when you first hold your own book in your own hands.”
“I always wanted to see you. But I was afraid of admitting it. The moment I saw you, I couldn’t control my happiness, and the tears just wouldn't stop.”
He smiled softly, his grip on my wrists loosened for me to find balance to stand. He reached his bag and pulled out the book, holding it toward her.
“Well, you don’t have to be afraid anymore. Open it. It’s yours.”
When I reached out for the book, my hands were trembling and my fingers were brushing against my name printed on the book. The name and title stared back at her like it was real, permanent and entirely mine.
“Thank you, Mr Raavan .”
He laughed softly and said,
“A real friend doesn’t say sorry and thanks. Instead, they will be beside you through every moment of your life as if they are a part of it. Be genuine in your relationships, and you will see wonders. And, Janki. I cooked food for you with my own hands. Remember you said a month earlier about my cooking skills. So I came here yesterday evening and checked into a hotel where I can prepare food myself and allow you to taste my recipe."
“Is that so? I’m very much overwhelmed by the love, care and now the food prepared by your own hands. Let me taste it.” I took a bite. "Wow, it's delicious. I can genuinely taste the care you put into it."
“Dear Janki.. Happy for your kind words. You please take leave for the afternoon and let me change myself and show you around the city.”
“Ok, Raavan..Just give me thirty minutes.”
I went inside the office with the book I wrote in one hand and immense pleasure and happiness in the other. My mind was full of joy and I had just got wings of youthfulness from my best friend Raavan.
