PREFACE
What are you reading now; was written exactly 2 years back. I never published it as a friend of mine said it was too kiddish for a then "27 year old" . But now I've just decided to do hell with that thought and here comes the so called "kiddish" wrath upon the "oh-so adult" world.



This is a short story, or hopefully.

I am not used to writing a story like this (on a regular basis). Quite frankly because I believe love cannot be described "enough" in a few words that some genuine actions can achieve. But then recent events around the globe & the ever increasing population have forced me to look beyond the convention and sometime use "the convention" to break itself.

The characters are Avantika (the girl) & Sahil (the boy).

Sahil was immensely infatuated by Avantika. He felt that his infatuation had a spark to be developed into something sensibly profound; akin to a sound / feeling resonating deep within both of them. A feeling of being "cut from the same fabric" whilst being very different in aspirations.

He tried in many ways to ask her out casually, only to his vain. On various occasions he had approached her with flowers, chocolates et all. You name it and he had tried all the cheesy stuff out of the rule book. In return, all he ever received was a friendly combination of a smile & thank you. Occasionally, she nuzzled his hair.

The only time when he could talk to her in a confident way was whilst poking fun at the whole “ALS IceBucketChallenge” mania that had gripped the nation recently.  (One thing they had in common was a disdain for the conventional).

Once, he decided to approach her directly and spill his heart out, only to quiver the moment he was in front of her. It was natural. She had a very expressive face, eyes brimming with confidence, sultry lips breaking out into a unique smile. The idea of "falling in love" seemed more exciting than love itself.  But then he couldn't be blamed as love needs to be cultivated and nurtured whilst one is experiencing the above phase.

Avantika couldn't get through his subtle nuances or pretended not to (probably she was more emotionally intelligent than him and could easily mask herself). This uncertainty irked him.  Like always, he was lost in translation. She knew that, but she was battling her own demons and didn't really make an effort to see a closure for both of them, for good or worse. This feeling of being in a limbo was far worse than downright rejection.

Time passed by and it was New Year’s Eve. They decided to meet within a group of friends after a hiatus. She was still the same, although Sahil was surer of himself than ever.

The night followed with chatting, dancing to great music and drinking some fine wine whilst discussing life.... when all of a sudden Sahil decided to go all-out in a fashion previously unknown to her or any other person in their group.

He randomly got up from his chair and this followed



“Ok Avantika, listen up!

  .....Think I've had enough for the last year. A year of me infatuating over you - to - dreaming a future - to - dropping clues ad-infinitum...... I just don't get it that why you don't get it? Get it? What do I need to do to make you understand a simple thing? "

At that moment she looked at him, gave a hearty smile with her rolling-of-eyes nuance stating "I don't know maybe try something unconventional? For some inexplicable reason he got that oft-difficult-to-read expression and smiled back.

He made a gentle stride across their table, eyeing a bucketful of  beers resting between the ice, removed all the beers and to everyone's horror poured the bucket of ice all over him (ohhh! How unconventional!! - She thought!). In the need to explain further, he followed up with this:

"Ok Avantika, I know!!

.... It’s probably the most clichéd thing I've done to let you know how much I love you (or want to). Both of us had earlier ridiculed the idea of this whole #als #icebucketchallenge thing even though millions were raised by this illogical act. Never mind the wasted water. 

I did it because I can't stand this feeling inside of me anymore. Take it as a compliment for you being extremely hot. A bucket of ice is all but a temporary relief. The real issue is this overwhelming feeling inside of me, burning in and out every second just to express a simple emotion. Hence, by trying to suppress it, I want to let you know how difficult it is for me.

Hope any of this makes any sense to you and I will not get listed in the list of ice bucket fail videos on YouTube (failure being her non-acceptance of his proposal).

And for the wasted ice / water I'm ready to face charges as stated in the City Code 101, Section B.12 if only that would at least make you understand my point.

Over to you."

It was a very hysterical situation and she didn't know how to react. She was shell-shocked over his nearing-lunatic behavior. Myriad thoughts of slapping him- to -just exiting quietly- to - now-whatcrossed her mind.

All eyes in lounge were now fixed upon her.

She knew it was finally time to respond. And this followed:



“Ok Sahil, my idiosyncratic friend (or shall I revise friend now?)

What was this? Really? New Year’s Eve that too?

I know you’ve been articulate enough (though very shy) in expressing your feelings in the past. However, I was too busy fighting my own struggles to acknowledge any of this, maybe a bit too selfish, until now.

But looking at a “different you” today, I am speechless. At your courage for being such a lovingly sweet lunatic! For the first time I am at a loss of words to express my emotion towards this… whole thing. Gosh! Can’t even poke fun at the ice bucket this time!

Hence, this is all I will do tonight to let you know what I feel.”

Before everyone could guess, Avantika without sparing any drama followed suit as Sahil, albeit this time the bucket was from a neighboring table.

As if the drama wasn’t enough, the lights went off and the countdown began 4.... 3.....2.....1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

With the lights on, both were found in an embrace previously unknown to each other, kissing and quietly wishing each other over a new start.

With Avantika rejoicing to Sahil:  

"You know the only ice bucket I was ever meant to waste, was for you." 

The End.