The Backbenchers: The Missed Call! Read online

  `I am not asking for much. Just a movie or something, maybe ... Whatever you say,' her mother tried again.

  `Why would I want to watch a movie with you? Or do anything at all with you?' Natasha said, finally letting go of all the frustration from the day.

  `Natasha! Stop it. Is this the way you talk to your mother? Apologize,' her father said.

  `No! I won't. Why would I? I did not lie. I just said what I feel. I do not want to have anything to do with her.'

  `Natasha-'

  `No, Dad. I will not listen to you anymore. I came here for you. Not for her. She should know that,' Natasha said and rushed out of the hotel.

  As she sat in the car and waited for her dad to come, she tried to calm herself. What had gotten into her!?! She should not have shouted at her mother like that. Especially not on her birthday. Another ten minutes and she wouldn't have had to see her for another month. She should have just let her be.

  Her dad got into the car and drove them back to the house without saying a word. It killed her. She knew he had wanted the night to be special for her mother. And she had tried. But she just could not stand her mother trying to make her way back into their lives. She hated her. For what she had done to her and her dad.

  She sneaked a look at him. He wore an unreadable expression. She could tell that he was angry, but she did not know how much. She wanted to make it okay. Her dad was the only person on earth who did not totally hate her. She couldn't afford to lose that. She tried, but no words came out of her mouth. She kept framing and reframing sentences in her head, to apologize for what she had done. But she couldn't say anything. For a minute, she felt intense sadness. What if he did not forgive her? As she stepped out of the car, she did not look at her dad again. She made her way to her room and without changing out of her dress, climbed onto her bed. She hid herself under the covers and revelled in the darkness.

  It was around half an hour later that she heard movement in her room. She peeked out of her blanket to see her dad enter. He came towards her and sat on the side of her bed. She felt relieved. Everything was going to be okay, she knew. He said nothing. She knew she had to be the one to do the talking. So she slowly sat up against the headrest and looked at him.

  `Dad ... you know I did not mean to ... I just ... I am really sorry. I did not mean to hurt you. I know I should not have said all those things to her,' she said.

  `Then why did you?' His voice was soft, but firm. He did not seem angry. That gave her confidence.

  `You know I don't like her. You should never have made me meet her. I ruined the evening for all of us ...'

  `I know you don't like her. But ... she really wanted us to have dinner together. She is trying to get things back in place-'

  `No, she is not. I know she does not want to make things right. Or maybe . . . maybe she does, for some selfish motive she has . . .' Natasha said with a lot of emotion.

  `I have known her since the last twenty years. Trust me, it is time enough to judge the kind of person someone is.'

  `But you don't. Can't you see the fakeness behind her words? How artificial everything she says or does is?'

  `No, I do not. I consider myself a good judge of character. You see all that because you have chosen to see so. Give her some time,' her dad said calmly.

  `No, I cannot do that! It makes no sense. Why would someone leave someone only to come back? All these years later?'

  `Because she loves us. She made a mistake and she is trying to set things right now. Why not just give her a chance?'

  `Because I can't! I cannot show sympathy . . . or compassion . . . or whatever you want to call it. I am just a bad person,' she said, now frustrated.

  `Yes, you can. You don't know it, but you are a very good person at heart.'

  `No, I am not. You don't know anything. You should have seen the way they treated me at school today ... and they do that every day ... No one does that to a good person.'

  `They are all foolish. They cannot see what a gem of a person-' her dad started but she cut him off.

  `Oh, please Dad. I know what I am. And they know that. I deserve all that I am getting . . .' she said dejected.

  They stayed silent for a short while, after which her dad said, `Do you want to talk about it?'

  She shook her head.

  `Okay. Just know that I am there. And I am willing to listen, okay?'

  She nodded.

  Alright. Now go to sleep, it's getting late. You have school tomorrow,' he said and kissed her forehead softly.

  `Hmm.'

  And ... I know it's too much to ask of you, but at least try to accept your mom. What is wrong in trying, right?'

  And even though she nodded, she knew she would never even consider accepting her mom back.

  ifteen missed calls in fifteen minutes. Rana did not even bother rejecting them. He let it ring, over and over again. She never gave up. The calls continued. She knew he was not going to make it any easier for her. She had been mean to him and she deserved all she was getting. While breaking up, Rana had told her exactly how he felt knowing that she had used him and that he never wanted to talk to her again.

  As Natasha called Rana for the millionth time that morning, she felt her hopes waver a little. It had been over an hour. He had not even rejected a single call from her. But Natasha was out of options.

  After that row at school, there was no one she could talk to. Saakshi used to be a friend, but she was a bitch, too, and bitches don't change. Natasha needed company quite desperately. And Rana ... she really wanted to set things right with him. She looked at his number and she found her head muddled with questions. Do I like him? She had never really cared about hurting anyone and setting it right, but why was it different this time? Natasha was further troubled by why Rana had decided to dump her, even after getting into a fist fight with Yuvraj over her.

  After calling him consistently for over an hour, she let out a huge sigh of frustration.

  She sat on her bed and decided to go to Rana's place and talk it out with him. And with that thought in her mind, she went to take a shower. Half an hour later, she checked her reflection in the mirror for one last time. She had taken special care dressing up. High heels, hair falling carefully wildly all over, skirt reaching her mid thighs. A little lip gloss, a dash of kohl, and she was ready to go.

  A little while later, she found herself sitting in her car, parked right outside Rana's place. She called him again. As expected, the first few calls were rejected. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. She stepped out of the car.

  The door was opened almost immediately after she rang the bell. The servant stood a few feet away from her, holding the door open for her to enter. What pissed her was the way he was eyeing her curiously and looking her up and down.

  `Kisse milna hail' he asked.

  `Where's Rana?' she asked, looking behind him, as if expecting Rana to leap up from behind.

  `Who are you?'

  `Just answer the stupid question,' she said from behind gritted teeth.

  `Could you please tell me your name?'

  `Why do I need to tell you my name? Just tell me where Rana is.'

  `Are you Natasha Malhotra?' the servant asked. She nodded and the servant continued, `You can't meet him.'

  `What the hell! Did Rana ask you to not let me in?' Natasha suddenly thundered, her self-control giving way to fury.

  `Please calm down.'

  `Rana! RANA!' she started to shout, forcing herself inside the house. She looked in and around and not knowing what to do, started to shout in random directions. `Rana! I know you're in here somewhere. And you know I want to talk to you. Would you just come out please? Would it kill you to- What? Buzz off, man,' she said irritably to the servant, who was trying to ask her to leave.

  `Madam-'

  `What is wrong with you, you jerk? Can't you mind your own freaking business?' she turned towards him and let out.

  `Sorry to interrupt, but it is his business to help yo
u out of the premises,' came a familiar voice from behind them. She spun around to see Rana descending a flight of stairs and to approach her.

  `Rana . . .' she managed to murmur stupidly, as she stood and stared at him. Rana looked gorgeous with his floppy mop of hair and his careless smile. Natasha, for a moment, forgave herself for cheating on her boyfriend for him.

  `I tried to keep her out, but she did not listen ...' the servant said politely to Rana.

  `It's alright. You can go,' Rana replied, not taking his eyes off Natasha's.

  Once the servant excused himself, Natasha felt a shiver of fear.

  `So?' he said.

  She said nothing. She just stared at him wordlessly, looking utterly stupid.

  `Natasha? You wanted to say something?' Rana prodded.

  `I ... I just, uh, please take me back . . .' It came out before she could stop herself. It sounded stupid and for the first time, she had begged. She looked at Rana with horror ... and saw his expression change.

  He stayed silent for a while, and stared right back at her. Her breathing stopped. She looked at him, with a flurry of emotions clearly etched on her face. Fear, regret, guilt, anticipation ... love, maybe. As she waited for him to respond, she thought what she would do if he said no. She would not take no for an answer. She would make him understand . . . though she was not sure what. Natasha was herself not clear in her head as to why she wanted him so much.

  `Are you serious? Are you bloody serious?' he said and laughed at it, like it was the funniest thing ever said.

  It took her a few seconds to realise what she felt. She felt something prick the back of her eye; she was about to cry. Oh God. No. That would be so humiliating. I won't cry. I won't cry. She kept repeating in her head. Why is this happening? He was just another guy. And lately, she had gotten used to insults. She composed herself and fought back her tears.

  `Yes. Yes, I am serious,' she answered him simply, as if she did not understand the question was rhetorical.

  `What? Have you like, totally lost it?' Rana said, looking exasperated beyond belief.

  `No, Rana. I'm perfectly alright. I want to get back together. I regret what I did to you and I am here to apologize. I want to-'

  `Hold on. Why on earth do you think I would be interested in what you want and what you don't?' he cut her off rudely.

  `Because I lo-' She stopped herself before she could say the word out loud. Love. `Because I really want to set things right. I have wronged you. And I've apologized. And I would do it again, if you want me to.'

  `Do it.'

  `What?'

  `Do it. Apologize to me. For everything you have done to me,' Rana said, looking down at her, as if she was roadside trash.

  `Rana-I'm sorry. For not telling you that I was dating Yuvraj, and for kissing you. I shouldn't have used you to get back at him. I know it was horrible of me, and I am sorry,' she said. The tears would come anytime now. But she was doing a mighty good job of holding them back.

  Rana did not say anything. He looked at her as if he was trying to gauge how much of what she was saying she really meant. Her heart took a little leap. It was not over yet. There was still a chance. He was at least considering.

  She continued, `But Rana . . . I don't regret kissing you. You mean something to me ... and ... Please come back. I need-'

  `Okay, that's it.' he suddenly cut her off loudly by interjecting. `Need. That word always has to turn up, when we are talking about you, doesn't it? You need me. Then you use me. How convenient. You cheated on me when you didn't tell me that you were already dating someone. Then you use me?'

  `I really have genuine feelings for-'

  `No, Natasha, you don't. For a minute there, seeing you trying this hard ... I almost started to think that you might be telling the truth, for a change, but I know it's all bullshit.'

  `Please believe me. I can't ... I can't tell you how much I need you right now. There's no one. . .' she said meekly.

  `Go away.'

  `What?'

  `Go away. Get out of my house. Now,' Rana said and climbed back the flight of stairs, disappearing from her view

  `But . . .' she said softly and the rest of the words died in her mouth.

  She looked around helplessly for a while, before realising that there was nothing more she could do. She had literally begged, and he had literally kicked her away. She turned around like a zombie, tears blinding her and made her way out of the house. As she approached her car, the driver held the door open for her. She got in and turned to look at the house she had just been thrown out of. She thought of the day she first came there, got drunk and kissed Rana. She wished she had told Rana about Yuvraj.

  s she sat silently and looked at Yuvraj in the corridor, their eyes met and it was evident that he knew how she had practically thrown herself at Rana the previous day. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe she was just imagining things. She was surprised to know that she did not regret any of what happened with Rana. And she decided to see what happened with Rana as a first step to gaining his approval and her respect back. Yesterday, he listened to me. Tomorrow, he might be willing to talk.

  Her hopes did not flounder. She sat in the class, bored. She had no one to talk to. She hadn't minded before because she had never had any free time. The student council activities had always kept her busy. That day, she realized a change in the classroom's environment. Everyone was talking excitedly to each other. She looked around and tried to figure out what it was all about, but didn't know whom to ask. So she finally paid a little attention to what the teacher was saying.

  `... only one team from The Presidency Convent. And so, we have decided to select four teams from the twelfth grade. These teams will compete against each other. This will be the first round. The team that wins it will go to the next round of the quiz, in IIT Delhi. Please put your names on the list I have passed around. We will make teams from it and select which team represents my class. I will make the teams on my discretion, alone,' the teacher concluded.

  Her brain rejected the useless information almost by reflex. Quiz? She had better things to do in life. Like, for example-debating, anchoring and organizing events. Over the last few weeks, she had not been allowed to represent the school in any extra-curricular activity but she couldn't be kept out of everything forever. But what if .. .

  And then she thought again-a quiz? Maybe. It can't be that bad. IIT Delhi was the added charm. She wrote her name on the list and wondered if she would be picked. But almost everyone had opted for selection, so she knew that competition would be tough.

  `I will read out the teams now, so you can start preparing,' the teacher said next and started to read out names.

  Her daydreams were broken by her name being called out. She looked up, but the teacher had already moved on to the next team. Her name was called out the last in her team, and she missed the names of the other two. She looked around curiously to see who she was put with, but no one seemed to be paying any heed to her.

  She decided to wait till the class ended and someone from her team to approach her, to prepare together for the quiz. But what if no one did? What if no one wanted to be on a team with her? The teacher left the class soon, asking the students to use the rest of the time to discuss their strategies with their group members. In a short few seconds, there was a bustle around the class. She looked around to see Shreya make her way towards her. Her heart flipped a little uncomfortably in her chest. This can't be. This can't be. This can't be ...

  `Hi,' Shreya said as she stood in front of her.

  `Umm ... yes?' Natasha asked unsurely. She was hoping against hope that Shreya was not on her team.

  `I ... uh, you want to discuss how we are going to go about this?' Shreya said sweetly, like she always did. Right from the first grade.

  `Go about what?'

  `The quiz? We are on the same team ...'

  `Oh,' Natasha said shortly and silence followed. Of all the people ... Shreya had to be on her team. Shreya. The girl she
did not even remember existed ever since they stopped being friends four years ago.

  `Natasha? Are you alright?' Shreya asked with concern in her expression.

  `Huh? Yeah . . . yeah, I'm okay. Umm . . . so,' she cleared her throat. `So, who else is in our team,' she asked as casually as possible.

  `Vicky-'

  `-Rajput? Vicky Rajput? That-' Natasha stopped midway, noticing him come towards them. Vicky was one of the richest and most spoilt guys in the class. Generally, all the students of The Presidency Convent were rich and most of them spoiled, but Vicky was a degree higher in both. He acted as if he ruled the school. Which he kind of did, too. His dad was on the board of directors and the biggest donor to the school funds. Vicky never shied away from mentioning that.

  `That-? What were you saying?' Vicky asked fakeinnocently, turning to Natasha.

  `Never mind,' Natasha glared at him.

  `No, no. Please go ahead. I would like to know what a girl like you has to say about other people.'

  `What do mean a girl like me? What the hell do you mean by that?'

  `Showing you your place. That's what I'm trying to do,' Vicky answered furiously.

  Before matters got way too out of hand, Shreya intervened and made them both shut up. It took her a good ten minutes and in that time, a lot of new words were added to her slang vocabulary, courtesy Natasha and Vicky. As soon as she managed to stop their bickering, the bell rang and the next period started. She exchanged numbers with both Natasha and Vicky. They would have to have a discussion later. Shreya sighed and made her way back to her seat, asking them to behave themselves when they next met to discuss matters regarding the quiz.

  And somehow-to Natasha's intense surprise-she just could not be rude to Shreya.

  And she knew why.

  hreya went back home that day and lay back on her bed. Her mom asked why she was late even though she wasn't. Her mom had a habit she had developed ever since that day. That day was the last day Natasha and she had talked as friends.

  Natasha and Shreya became friends in the first grade. They joined the same school and bonded instantly. Years went by and they grew up to be different people. Natasha grew up to be an ambitious, brash girl who was rude to anyone who didn't matter, while Shreya remained sweet and an introvert. Yet, Shreya always found comfort in her company and considered Natasha as family.