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 Page A

bring the letter,” she reminded me before hanging up.
    I thought about what Suvi said. I owed Abhi an explanation. I had to make him understand how I felt about Vaibhav. I had to tell him that I did mean what I had told him earlier. At least that is what I convinced myself.
    I looked at my watch quickly. Mum would not be back for at least half an hour. I dialled his number. He answered even before the first ring had ended. It looked as though he had been waiting for it.
    “Hello, Abhi?” I asked hesitatingly.
    “I knew you would call!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “When are you coming?”
    “Did I tell you I would be coming?” I retorted, a little shocked at how well he seemed to have gauged me.
    “Of course you will!” he answered with certainty. “Tell me when, what time?”
    “Ummm, let me think about it. If you're really nice and plead with me I might consider it,” I smiled, enjoying prolonging his eagerness and anticipation.
    “Oh, I can beg, I can play the violin, I can bring loudspeakers outside your house right now or flowers if you prefer.”
    I was sure he was capable of it.
    “No need for all that, I'll meet you on Saturday afternoon at 3?”
    “Waiting, waiting, waiting” he said and then we said polite byes and hung up.
    When Vaibhav called I did not mention a word about Abhi or agreeing to meet him even though it was topmost on my mind at that point of time. If guilt was a stone tied to my ankles, I would have sunk easily to the bottom of the sea. But I wore it easily on my sleeve, by pushing it aside and spoke to Vaibhav as though everything was normal.
    When I reached college the next day, Suvi pounced on me, grabbed my bag, rummaged expertly through the contents and found the letter.
    “You would make a good thief. You go through the contents of my bag so quickly and deftly,” I commented watching her.
    “Only if all the bags had interesting love letters,” she retorted, as she began reading.
    She too reacted exactly as I had when I had first read it and I waited, watching for the effect when she would turn the page and see the writing in blood. I had purposely not mentioned it over the phone. I wanted to see her reaction, in person. She did not disappoint.
    “Holy Cow, Sweet Jesus, Holy Spirit and Mother Mary!” she exclaimed.
    Then when she recovered I asked her if she thought Abhi was crazy or a bit unbalanced after reading the letter.
    “He is not a lunatic or unbalanced, but he is so madly in love with you. You're blind not to be able to see it.”
    I took a long time on Saturday morning deciding what to wear. I had already told my mother that I had a special office bearers meeting. It was really not a lie as I was meeting another office bearer, wasn't I? I chuckled at my own silly joke, but it was mostly to hide the nervousness I felt. I knew Abhi would notice what I wore. I didn't want it to seem like I had made a huge effort in dressing up to look pretty just for him. Yet, I wanted to look nice. Finally, after very long I ended up wearing a white shirt, jeans and casual brown sandals tying up my hair in a pony tail, taking care to make it seem as though no effort had gone into choosing the outfit or hairstyle or accessories.
    Then (finally) when I was satisfied, I left for Abhi's house.

    5
    Life is what you make it
    A bhi's back was turned to me and he seemed to be watching cricket on television eagerly when I arrived. I had caught a glimpse of him through the window which had a curtain that was drawn back. I was nervous and excited and suddenly unsure of myself. What was I doing, turning up at his house just because he had asked me to? After all I hadn't even known him for long. How could I get carried away like this, just because he had written me a nice letter? For a moment I considered turning back and going home. I could always call him and say that something had turned up and I couldn't come, he would never know. But then I rang the bell.
    Abhi jumped up almost