Life Is What You Make It A Story Of Love, Hope And How Determination Can Overcome Even Destiny by Preeti Shenoy Read Free Book Online

I noticed every little thing about you.
    I couldn't help smiling at his words. He really seemed to have noticed every minor detail about me. The first page ended here and he had written “P.T.O” at the bottom. I smiled as the last time I had used it was in school, in our assignments when I wanted the teacher to turn the page, just in case she missed it.
    I was more than ready to turn over. “Oh God. Abhi writes so much better than Vaibhav.” The thought crept up surreptitiously into my head and I guiltily and hastily pushed it aside and admonished myself for comparing them both. When I turned over I recoiled, nearly jumped out of my bed and hit the roof, as though I had settled down on a hot scalding iron instead of my comfortable pillows. Written in blood in letters about two inches high, in capitals were the words
    “I LOVE YOU”
    The first few letters were darkest and the O and U were very light. And beneath them he had written in pen, yes, it is blood and I do love you, but I think I don' t even have enough blood in my body to prove my love to you.
    On the next page at the bottom left hand side, he had stuck a photo of himself which he had cut out in shape (I presumed from a larger photo which perhaps had other people). Beneath it, he had written
    I may not be a pro-Mandal Commission activist or a reservationist but I surely want to reserve you for myself.
    I want to talk to you for a little while. Please don't say no. I'll be waiting.
    All my love and then some more,
    Abhi
    And below this he had written his phone number, address and drawn a map to his house. It was a route I was familiar with, as I knew that part of the town and he had indicated all the landmarks and important places. I could make out where his home was easily. The directions were clear and well emphasised.
    My heart seemed to be beating at the rate of million times a minute now. I did not know what to do. Curiously I sniffed the letter, the part which he had written in blood. It smelled like rust. I found myself wondering whether he had cut himself and if so what finger he had cut. Had he cut his thumb? Had he cut his forefinger? This guy seemed to be crazy. Yet it was a manic, intense kind of craze.
    I waited for a chance to call Suvi. When my mother stepped out in the evening to visit a neighbour, I grabbed my chance and dialled her hostel number. The common phone was very close to her hostel room and she came on the line almost immediately.
    “Did you read it? What has he said? Tell me, tell me!” she demanded, without even a cursory hello. We were beyond that.
    “He has said he wants to meet me for just a little while,” I answered, feeling weird, confused and not knowing what to do, all at the same time.
    “Ah-ha! What has he written?”
    “What do you think? He has also drawn a map giving directions to his home and says he will be waiting for me.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “Idiot, why do you think I called you?”
    “Meet him,” she said giggling wickedly.
    “Shut up. Stop making fun of me!”
    “No, I actually meant it. The guy seems obsessed. He has written to you sincerely. I think you should at least meet him and explain.”
    “I thought of it too. But I don't know Suvi, it seems absolutely wrong.”
    “Gosh Anks! Stop pretending you're married to Vaibhav. And you are not in the Victorian era. How proper and idealistic can you be? Get a hold on yourself, girl. Sometimes you're such a people pleaser, no actually that should be Vaibhav-pleaser.”
    “I am NOT,” I defended myself. But I knew she had a point. I did tend to be idealistic and most of the time my behaviour was governed by what Vaibhav would say, how he would react and what he would think.
    “You don't have to say anything to Vaibhav. You're only meeting Abhi, not sleeping with him for God's sake. At least I presume you won't, the first time,” she teased.
    “Shut up!” I smiled. “See you tomorrow at college.”
    “Yeah, bye and don't forget to