Day 1 (Shreeyash's place)
'Hey, you got some books on cosmology?' asked Prateek crashing into the room.
Shreeyash was in the far end corner crouched low fixing the study lamp.
'Who's the catch?' said Shreeyash without looking back. Still turning the screws of the lid.
'No one!' replied Prateek in an even tone.
'uu..huhh??' Shreeyash turned around with a raised brow.
'Nothing', a smile appeared on Prateek's face, he was anticipating this. Out came a well-versed reply 'I just happened to come across a Nat Geo Quiz Contest so was intrested to know about cosmology, the winner gets a Telescope, We can use that to....'
'Seriously dude is that your back up??' Shreeyash interrupted laughing. 'I have seen you enter this room with that baby-face expression of yours for countless times, and I don't need a second look to guess that it's about a girl.' He added putting the lamp back to it's place,
'5 months back you were a football freak, Barcelona was your temple and Messi your god.. Then as that chick moved to another Messimaniac and you spent half the evening blabbering about some trashtalk I can't even recite.'
'Well the thing was she was too much into balls than other things you know' Prateek retorted hopelessly.
'Aah.. Is it? Then what about that girl you met at J.J.'s painting exhibition? Gotta say that was a class act Pee-Boy! To hook up with a painter.'
Prateek gave a frown, 'Okay! It's a girl'
'There you are!' Shreeyash said as if he outwitted Sherlock Holmes at a mystery.
'Why do you hide it in the first place? and Where do you find these man?, cant you find a perfectly normal abnormal girl?'
'Listen, first thing ours is a perfect match. I think finally my True Love is with me!..'
'Making a pardon Mister! - True Love #760' Shreeyash teased.
Prateek didn't bother to respond, he went on '..She likes to stay up late, staring at the skies, to the various twinkling stars, their constellations, talking about the universe and planets And you know better than anyone not just that i love staying up late.. I am also good at staring.. But at different planets.. (winks)'
'Hot one or Cute one??' Shreeyash interjected again.
'Cute one!' said Prateek almost Grinning.
Shreeyash smiled in return, Prateek always amused him with his little wordplay. Shreeyash was looking through his bookshelf, extracted one thin handbook and handed over to Prateek.
'Take this one. It will be good for the start.'
'Yep, thanx' said Prateek as he admired the cover page for while with a galaxy of stars spread across it.
'Wait a while if you can, maa is making paranthas.' Shreeyash tried to lure him to stay for the afternoon as he was clearly bored staying home fixing his room.
'Naah.. In a rush! see you around..' Prateek started for door as he bagged the book.
'Hey wait, a quick advice..'
Prateek paused 'Proceed GURU!'
'Cosmologists are known to be patient species, if you go too fast.. you might crash into a dead-end way before the fortnight.'
'Yeah sure i'll keep that in mind.' Prateek waved and closed the door behind him.
Day 7 (Online Chatbox)
Shreeyash : hey! howz it goin?
Prateek : pretty gud til nw.
Shreeyash : hmm.. gud 2 knw :D :D
Prateek : answr this.
hw 2 go 2 Sun?
Shreeyash : umm... At night??
Prateek : nope! B)
Shreeyash : pass! :/
Prateek : U can go on any day except fr SUNday :P :P :P :D
hahahaha :D
Shreeyash : lolzzz :P ahhaa! KASMOLAGI huhh?? hv built sum liking in a week ;) :P :P
chal gtg ttyl
Prateek : Cool.
Day 14 (Prateek's place)
'Hey Peee-Boy!!' Shreeyash walked in to a messed up room. A chart was kissing the flooring, few magazines were scattered on Bed. and somewhere in between was Prateek boxing the ruins.
'What happened?' asked Shreeyash as there was no response.
'Nothing.' said Prateek plainly.
'What is it?' inquired Shreeyash.
'Its over!' Prateek stood upright to look at Shreeyash.
Shreeyash was clueless, He asked in one go, 'Why?? Why so fast? Last week everything was going great, now all of a sudden?'
After dusting the desktop which for last couple of weeks hosted some out of the world things. Finally Prateek spoke sitting by the end of the bed.
'She wasn't ready for a commitment! She was dating quite a few guys at a time, turns out your 'Go Slow!' sign wasn't appropriate this time around.' Prateek sounded angry and low. Shreeyash kept a straight face. He did not respond.
'I thought of her as earth! And me: her lone moon, but she turned out to be Jupiter with more than dozen of moons around her....'
Just when Shree thought of stepping in; Prateek's mom snapped in with a parcel in hand. 'Pratu, some parcel for you, 'Evening Shree....'
Just as Prateek heard 'parcel..' he rushed towards her. grabbed it and pushed her out from the door only. She didn't even get to talk to Shreeyash.
As Prateek locked the bedroom from inside. He turned around gleaming.
'What's in there?' Shreeyash was wearing a question mark on his face.
'I am a TRAVELER now !!' said Prateek as he punched the package in air! showing a Trekker's guide printed on it. They both burst out laughing as that Fortnight fickle ceased to an end for the time being.
-V. V. Talavanekar
