Finally!!

I can barely open my eyes. I bury myself into my adorable quilt and am struggling to open eyelids. I, however, manage to get my eyes open and take my phone and am peeping into it if there are any important mails or messages for me. There is Prerna’s message. It is four hours ago. I opened it . “Hey babes. I hope you had a nice sleep. I told my parents what we had discussed. They were not ready to get it. And they had decided to get me married. I want your help. I can’t handle this anymore” It speaks.

“What the hell” I muttered. How they can be so rude to her.

“Prerna, just don’t give up on it. It’s your life and your career. Explain to them. And just fight for what you want. Just stand by your choice of living.” I whatsapped her.

  I take a shower. And there is another message from her. “Jyothi, I am coming there”.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, it is. I will come and tell you what had happened.” she replies. As I am waiting for her, my thoughts drive me back to the past.

                                          ****************************

                It was the first day of our college in Engineering. Prerna and I sat beside each other. We became really good friends during the orientation class and I was listening to class and making the notes down.

“Are you making notes for such a boring lecture?” Prerna said in all amusement.

“Not really boring to me. Actually I am interested in it.”

“Oh Gosh! You are really doing what you like and See me..” she made a sad face. Her eyes were half red indicating that it was really boring lecture for her.” Give me your notes after the college. I will copy that” said she.

       Our college was over for that day and we were about to leaving the class. I started the conversation. “Don’t you like Engineering?”

“Engineering is not my cup of tea. I had a dream of becoming a doctor. But my parents want me to do engineering. That is why here I am.”

“So you are doing this just because of your parents?”

“Yes. I had no choice. Do you believe that I even wear the clothes selected by my mom?”

“What?! This is silly. You are not a kid anymore, Prerna. You have to make your own choices”

“I really wanna make my own choice. But parents are parents. They feel it’s their right to choose for their children. Of course, they are my parents. They can decide for me. ”

“But it’s not always good. You have to think about your interests too. You cannot make others’ wishes as yours for life long. And Once you decide what you want to become, explain to them . They will understand this time.”

“As you think so. But I not yet decided what to do. I will think what to do leisurely in these four years.” she laughed.

     Years had been passing really quick. I was involved in my studies. Prerna, on the other and, used to always read and I definitely knew they were not about academics. She used to study only before exams and however she would pass. She was intelligent and smart. But the only thing was she was not interested in that.

    I observed her many time scribbling something. I asked her many times what that was and she promised to reveal that once she was done.

    Three years had passed and we entered our final year and it was the time of our placements. I was busy in that and as usual she was not interested in that. The results were out and I got placed, Prerna didn’t and not she bothered about that.

    “Hey, babes. Congratulations. So happy for you. You have to give me a big blast of party.” She was genuinely very happy for me and I was overwhelmed. “Thank you, babes and sure we will blast the party. And what about you?”

     “That’s what I want to tell you. Wait”. She pulled out the diary and handed it to me. ”See, these are the some short stories I have written all these years. Now that you have so much time after the placements. Read them and give me a genuine review.” She said and I had told that I would read all those. We went out and I gave the real blast treat to her and she was so happy.

      At night, I started reading her stories and they were awesome. Each story was very interesting and I kept on reading, reading. Each time while I was reading a new story, I was awestruck by her writing and storytelling skills. I was sure at that moment that she would be a great author. I was so involved in the stories that I hardly realized that it was already morning. My phone rang. “Prerna calling” it shows.

“Hey babes, Good morning. How many stories have you read and what you feel about them? Am I eligible to be a writer? Are they okay?”

“What okay!?? They are awesome. I read all of them. I didn’t even sleep all night. I couldn’t resist myself from reading them that I didn’t even wanna go to sleep. Your name will be among the best-selling authors list soon.” I was almost jumping on my bed.

“Thank you loads my love. It is great to hear from you. You didn’t even sleep!! You girl! I love you so much. Now get some sleep. We will catch up later.”

“I love you too. And yeah, I will sleep now. And you tell your parents about your career”

“Yes, I am going to discuss today. Now, have a happy sleep. Good night for you. See you.”

“Yes yes madam. All the best for you”

“Thanks babes”. I slept for four hours and saw her message.

                                    **********************************

   She came. There is a bag in her hand. I can’t figure what has happened but I can understand that she has left home.

“What happened?” I asks.

“I will tell you. But I have a request for you. I left home. Can I live in your house for some time?”

“Yes, of course. You are my best friend. You can live with me.”

“Thanks”

“Enough of requests and formalities. Now tell me what happened.”

“I explained them all, Jyo. About my passion, career, dreams and all. But they are not ready to listen all these. They just want me to get married and lead a life. They said that it was hopeless future I was talking about. I didn’t listen. I stood by my choice. They finally told that they didn’t allow me to stay in that house if I was stubborn. I told them that I myself would leave the house and return only after becoming an author. And I left. Am I stupid doing this?” she asks sobbing.

“No. You just said what you wanted. They should understand you at least this time.”

“But they didn’t. They said that I was going to regret my decision. But I am sure that I will become an author.” She says confidently.

“Yes, you will. I will help you. My parents will help us through this. We are with you. You are going to be a great author, Prerna. You are born for it.”

“Thank you so much, Jyo. I feel really lucky to have you.”

“Oh! C’mmon yaar. You are my bestie. I am going to be famous for being best friend of renowned author. This is the least I can do. And now, stop crying. Do you want to eat something?”

“Yes. I am hungry. Let’s order something delicious.Pizza!”

“Pizza? You don’t eat that. Right?”

“That’s because my mom told me not to. But now I started to live on my choice. Let’s celebrate this new beginnings with the Pizza. Anyways, I love that.” She laughs and I join ordering Pizza.

“So you are happy with this new beginnings?”

“Yes, I am. And with you on my side, I am so excited.”

“Finally, my best friend is making her own choices.” I say imitating a stage performer.

“Yes. Finally!!!” she says with happiness and excitement in her voice and sparkles in her eyes.