Episode 6: That New Year Eve!

The Resurrection

(Time will reveal everything)

(Mini web series)

Have you read the 5th episode yet? If not, Read it here, to enjoy this episode.

Episode 6: That New Year Eve! 

You don’t need to know, what my name is, or who am I actually! All you need to know is the story I am about to share with you all. The story that matters, and the story that needs to be told! We know that sometimes, some things happen with some people that are actually unbelievable, strange and eccentric and this story is no different. These things or the series of events, change us for the better or worse, and decide who we become. So, assuming that you are ready to believe whatever I say and believe the not so obvious, I present to you the story of the unbelievable!!

A

fter the futile discussion on the magical leaves, the island and Abhay’s incredible combating skills, Ronit kept pestering Abhay until he divulged the complete scenario of events that had led them to that island. So, Abhay eventually had to tell him everything from the first call of the stranger, his nightmares coming true, to his nightmare showing Ritika as a murderer. So, now Ronit too knew about the strange happenings around Abhay as much as Abhay knew it himself, except for some secrets: like the happenings on the New Year eve of 31^st December, 2008.

            ‘Holly Shit!’ Ronit exclaimed as soon as Abhay was done with his story. ‘You didn’t tell me any of these freaking things for so long- seriously? And are you sure that Ritika shot you??? And that she has kidnapped Sharmaji? I don’t believe it, how can you?’

            ‘Yeah fine I didn’t tell you,’ Abhay said, trying to calm him down. ‘But now can we just focus on getting out safely from here?’

       ‘I don’t know Abhay,’ Ronit said, half worried, half despondent. ‘I don’t know what to expect after all the things you‘ve told me. I don’t know- I am just so much freaked out at the moment. This stranger is surely irked at you for the events of the New Year eve of 31^st December, 2008. But why is he so hell bent on you? What happened on that New Year eve? And who the freaking hell is Sanjana???’

Ronit then just lay on one side of the ground, when Abhay didn’t answer any of his questions and Abhay sat there, wondering about all the rut that they were in. Somehow everything that they were facing, had something to do with the stranger and the stranger indeed had something to do with Sanjana and that fateful New Year eve. Abhay revisited the events of the eve in his head and he could recollect everything, as if he was reliving every moment once again.

31^st December, 2008: The New Year eve (Almost 6 years ago from the day on the island):

T

he surroundings were glittering with the new hopes that everyone had held for the new year: 2009. The night was cold and the breeze had a certain charm mixed within it, as it passed by, Abhay, grazing his cheeks. Abhay had just entered The Royal Plaza, for the New Year Eve celebrations.

He was absolutely bewildered at the breathtaking decorations that had converted the already splendid beauty: The Royal Plaza, into a heavenly palace, much like a dream sequence. The place was itself a 5 star hotel; probably the best in the entire city and the decorations amid the fabulous chandeliers, amazing curtains and iridescent lamps that glittered the entire place, glorified the scenery beyond imagination. But, for a heart madly in love, nothing is more reliving, more pleasant and more aesthetic than a mere glimpse of the beloved. And so was the case with Abhay, who was 24 then and madly in love.

            So bored, he sat on the bar and ordered a light cocktail. He was having the first sip of the drink when, a hand touched his shoulder and its tenderness gave him Goosebumps.

            ‘May I have the pleasure of dancing with you on this very special night Mr. Pensive?’ a feminine voice greeted him. 

No wonder Abhay was delighted to see her in front of him. She was Sanjana, his long time friend and secretly his crush, whom he could never propose and for whom he had been waiting since he had entered the hotel premises. They both had been together in some really freaking and unbelievable moments and had shared everything- from even near to death experiences. 

‘Oh sure, why not madam,’ Abhay winked as he got up and hugged her. ‘I’ve been waiting for you for so long now.’

‘Yeah well, guess what?’ she said, in her usual exuberance. ‘I am here now, so we can dance, if you may, your majesty.’

She always behaved like that. It was as if she still had a child within her that had survived the pressure and turbulence of growing old. He had been madly in love with her ever since their time together on what he would call hell. But everything that had transpired, had only brought them closer and Abhay wondered if he could ever propose her and if she would give in to his proposal.

She wore a sparkling blue evening gown or one piece or whatever they called it. She had her hair done in a bun that rested on her head, making her head look more beautiful, and had a few twirled strands of hair hanging from the bun and locked behind the ears. The gown made her look what was beyond words and the fact that she carried it in a flawlessly aesthetic manner, only made Abhay fall for her even more. And yeah, how can one not mention the glowing skin that she had that evening! She was the one and only one made for Abhay, at least that is what he thought.

They entered the main hall of the hotel, where people were already dancing, lost in each other. Abhay slid his left hand at her waist, and hold her in his arms as his right hand entwined with the fingers of her left hand. He was lost in her, and she might not have noticed it. They swayed from place to place, dancing to the rhythm that the music commanded. It was ‘Marjawaan’ song from the bollywood movie Fashion that was being played, and Abhay loved it. 

‘What?’ Abhay asked, when he could no longer tolerate that glare in her eyes.

‘What do you mean what?’ Sanjana exploded, still dancing with him. ‘Do you always dance like this Abhay? C’mon dear, this is the New Year eve! Be a man today! You have a beautiful lady in your arms stupid, make her feel special.’

Like the majority of boys reading this, Abhay too was confused about what she meant. 

‘Huh?’ Abhay said. ‘What do you mean?’

‘The music is so boring here numskull,’ she said. ‘Come let’s go to the DJ club downstairs. Come on fast.’

As she said that, she hurriedly went towards the disco-cum-DJ-cum pub downstairs. Needless to say, Abhay too joined her. The atmosphere there was hazier, warmer and wilder than the sober and air conditioned atmosphere at the dance floor upstairs. One could not see anything clearly, thanks to the rhythmically flickering neon lights amid the complete darkness. The strong aroma of various perfumes and deodorants mixed together hit Abhay’s nostrils, really hard. 

Then against Sanjana’s wish, Abhay preferred sitting at the bar inside instead and look at the wild party animals lose it all out, silently. Sanjana being Sanjana joined everyone on the dance floor and the loud, heart pounding music filled the entire place.

The remixed versions of ‘Desi Girl’, ‘Pappu can’t dance sala’, ‘Race saanson ki’ and other peppy numbers from the year were being played at a terrific sound and bass adjustments. Abhay just sat there, a bit uncomfortable as he saw Sanjana, dancing her heart out, madly. He was wondering if he should propose her at the New Year itself. He was into his deep chain of thoughts when Sanjana suddenly clenched his arm and pulled him out of the place. 

‘What now?’ Abhay said, shocked at her sudden reaction. ‘Where are we going now?’

She didn’t say a word and took him to her room at the hotel, upstairs. She was in the city for some work from her company, and had been accommodated at The Royal Plaza by her company itself. And so she had sent one pass of the New Year party to Abhay. As they reached her room, she switched on the lights, turned on the AC and took something out of her closet.

‘Sit now,’ she asked Abhay to sit on the bed. ‘This shall be the first time in the history, but here it goes: Will you marry me Abhay Singhania?’

She said, as she kneeled down and opened the plush box with a ring inside. Abhay was too shocked to say anything. He couldn’t believe that this was actually happening.

‘No, don’t even think I am drunk,’ Sanjana said, clasping his palm under hers, as she stood up and sat beside him. ‘I am perfectly sober as I propose you. I also have a ring for myself if you are in.’

‘Wh…at?’ Abhay could still not believe what he witnesed and he still thought it was all a déjà vu. ‘What is it Sanjana? I mean, I…’

Before he could say anything, Sanjana pulled him and kissed him hard. It took a moment for Abhay to comprehend the situation and then he too responded back, by clasping her face in both his hands and kissing her back, passionately. As they released each other after some time, Sanjana finally spoke.

‘I love you Abhay,’ she said, glaring him straight in his eyes. ‘And I know you too love me. And for 2 years I’ve waited for you to take the first call but then I realized you won’t, so I did it myself.’

‘I love you too Sanjana,’ he said, clasping her face in his hands again. ‘I love you more than what you can ever imagine.’

With this, he kissed her again, this time more passionately. And after they released each other, Sanjana pulled his leg again.

‘Yeah, only if you could be a man enough to admit it before,’ she said, giggling.

‘Oh is it so?’ Abhay said, as he stood up, and pulled Sanjana towards him.  

He pulled her towards himself, and turned her around so she now stood there with her back facing Abhay. He drew her closer, and kissed her at her collar bone. She moaned and he then kept kissing her. Slowly he pulled down the straps of her gown down and kissed her at her shoulders. They were both lost into each other as his warm and heavy breaths touched her bare skin, rendering her drenched with emotions of love. He then turned her around again so she stood facing her, looked into her eyes and kissed her again.

‘I really love you Miss Sanjana Kashyap,’ he said. ‘You are the most beautiful woman in my world.’ 

Before she could say something, he lifted her in both his arms and took her towards the bed. The lights were switched off as they melted into each other. Their bodies became one and their passionate love for each other surpassed everything. That was the moment that they had decided to be each other's forever as they made love.

‘When do you plan to tell your parents about us Abhay?’ she asked, after they were done, as she lay there, half hugging Abhay and resting her head on his bare chest, who lay next to her. ‘Even though we agreed to it a few moments back, we have been with each other for over 5 years now.’

‘I’ll be visiting my parents this February Sanjana,’ he said, with his right hand playing with a strand of her hair. ‘And then we’ll be each other’s officially.’

‘But you better not mess with my father dear,’ she said. ‘You know how badly he is possessive about me.’’

‘Yeah obviously,’ he said. ‘I’ve no doubt that your father would actually wreck havoc in anyone’s life who as little would just try to touch you. He is a dangerous man.’

‘And you won’t?’ Sanjana asked, innocently. ‘I thought you loved me as much as my father does, maybe more than that.’

‘Of course I do my dear,’ he said. ‘Nobody can dare to be around you as long as I am alive, believe me.’ As he said that, the sounds of crackers and people cheering acknowledged the fact that the world had welcomed the year 2009.

‘Yeah, very funny,’ she said. ‘By the way, Happy New Year Abhay! May the New Year be the stepping stone for us and our relationship.’

‘It will be for sure,’ he said. ‘Happy New Year my love!’

As he said it, he kissed her again and they melted into each other again and the night promised to be the most treasured night of their lives. The rest of the night passed as they lost themselves into each other. When Abhay got up in the morning, Sanjana had already changed into a white shirt and dark back denims. She greeted him with a good morning kiss and Abhay then went to the bathroom to get ready. When he came back, all dressed up, Sanjana told him the entire itinerary for the day, and he was more than happy to oblige when the door bell rang, with the waiter yelling Room Service.  

 ‘Get him dear,’ Sanjana said. ‘It must be the waiter with the breakfast that I just ordered.’

‘Your order sir,’ the waiter said, as Abhay opened the door. ‘A Happy new year sir!’

Abhay greeted him back and as he turned towards Sanjana, somebody forcefully covered his face with a black clothe. Abhay was utterly shocked and as he tried to protest, something of a blow hit him hard over his head, and he went unconscious.

The next thing that he remembered was that he gained consciousness in a dark room, sweating badly and with his head paining hard, and his body tied up on a chair that he was sitting on. Before he could comprehend the situation, a strong flood light switched on, rendering him blind with the strong light and a man like figure entered the place.

‘Welcome back Mr. Abhay,’ a bald man said, pulling Abhay’s face with his chin. 

Abhay couldn’t believe when he finally saw the man as his eyes adjusted to the terrible lightening. The man was Timothy Francis, the same man whom Abhay had himself shot with a revolver thrice on his chest, 3 years ago. 

‘How the hell, are you alive?’ Abhay shouted, shocked.

The man burst into terrible giggles as he hit Abhay hard, rendering him unconscious again. Who the hell was this Timothy Francis? Why did Abhay kill him 3 years ago- and how was he still alive if Abhay had killed him? Anyhow, where was Abhay? Where was Sanjana? What happened to her? I leave you all here with sufficient time to ponder over these questions till I am back with the answers myself again. Till then, the only assurance we have is that whatever the answers are, only the time will tell.

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 Liked what you read? Read the next episode here: Episode7