one call

** Warning: This story has a sad ending. So, if you are a weakheart like me, I would request you to not proceed further. It has taken me two weeks of preparation to just right this **

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“So, you phone can make outgoing calls.” She said as she answered the phone, after what seemed to an eternity of ringing. But I was cautious as not to impose my urgency as I started chatting with her.

“Well, you are the one who always asks me to do something different.”

“Oh. So, is this call because you have finally decided to heed my words??”

“Let’s not get into that.”

“You never want to listen to what I want to say. Well, leave it then. So, why did you call? There must be some reason.”

“Nope, nothing. I just felt like talking to you, and ask about how things are over there.””

“It’s the same as it was when I called you this morning. Everyone’s good.”

“Well, that’s great. I hope it continues to be same.”

“Why the sudden urge to ask such questions and make such philosophical comments?”

“Nothing at all. It was just conversation filler.”

“Hmmm.”

“Well, I got some work to do. Talk to you later.”

“Ok bye. Don’t work too much. Take care of your health.”

Stifling an ironic smile, I replied “Always. Love ya. Bye.”

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After cutting the call, I laid down on my bed. The same bed, where it happened a few minutes before. I had thought that wasting a Saturday at home would be the better option, instead of going to the mall with friends, while my roomies went for their weekly Saturday overtime. But it all went wrong when I felt a bite on my ankle and a sharp pain searing up through my legs.

As we hadn’t had time to buy cots since moving into this flat some 5 months before, we have our mattresses on the floor. And somehow or the other, a snake had found its way into my room, and it bit me as I lay there enjoying a movie.

My knee jerk action was enough for it to slither away into the hole from which it came, but it had done its damage. I called the security of my flat, and asked him to send help, someone to carry me away.

I didn’t know what to do, after I made that call. I was thinking of why the snake bit me, how it got in, and how the hell a snake was able to make its way up to the 9th floor of this building. But it all seemed trivial now. I just accepted the fact that I might be on the verge of death, and if I had to do something, what would it be.

Her face was the only thing that came to me. That’s why I made that last call. And now as I lay there, I decided to send a message to her as well.

I can now hear the security outside my house. Oh Shit!! I had left it locked. How will he be able to get in? I can’t get up in this condition. I just can’t feel my legs. And I’m feeling drowsy.

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And as the thuds and kicks on the door grew louder, Arjun looked up. All he was able to see was the blurred vision of the family enjoying a picnic on the laptop screen. As he slowly drifted into unconsciousness, he thought to himself, “I wonder if they will live happily ever after. I hope they will”

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Beep. Beep.

Some 2000 miles away, Kavita picked up her phone. She read the message, and called out to her husband.

“Hear what your engineer son has to say. ‘I love you Mom and Dad. You have always done the best for me. And tell, Karan to study and to be able enough to support you people.’ First a call, and now this. Something is definitely wrong with that boy today.”