The Initial

By V G Sathve

Arun Kumar lazing on his couch on a sunday evening, re-running his life in his head. Few years ago, a struggling assistant director, slammed and insulted at, a struggling short film maker, discouraged and put down, now his first movie released , and was doing very well. The journey was very bumpy, but he has reached the sunrise view point in his life. In the whole process, there was one thing unforgettable, since his struggling days to the smiling hours, there was one thing in common. A letter, very encouraging and motivating every time, every time he lost hope, It only made him gather the scattered pieces and fight on. Startled at first as being a stalker, but currently it was his solace, without which his milestones are incomplete.

“It is ok if you are the kite that lost, you have the freedom, unlike the one bound by the string.” Your progress stops the days you drop your pen, not the day people splash ink at you.

Dil Chahta Hai (Only your happiness matters, close your eyes , listen to this song and think of the people who meant a lot at some time, they would come back to you someday, but might motivate you all your life).

Yours supportively always,

ARP.

There were many quotes, imagery and encouragement in every letter. It was always signed as ARP more like TRP rating. Arun Kumar was always curious about meeting the person giving him solace. His thoughts were interrupted by his six year younger sister Snehita. “Arun, Drop me to Alisha’s house na, Uber is sooo expensive. Please Arun.” Arun Kumar pretended not to listen. She yelled again”What is your problem, why dont you ever drop me to Alishas House in these two years I know her. I will buy you a chocolate”. Typical sibling fight, he told that he is not interested in babysitting her and then she told she will complain to mom and so on it went. Finally when Arun got the peace and quiet he wanted, he thought of updating his instagram handle, entertaining enough to get him more followers. Childhood Challenge was trending everywhere, his friends, his relatives, even his mom ;was putting photos of childhood.

Arun Kumar decided to post too regarding the challenge. He dusted the old photo albums settled in spider cobs in his old cupboards. He leafed through the pages when one photo got his attention. It was a picture of him with two other girls. Anu and Aru , he recalled vaguely, his best friends at the age of 5. They used to play, eat and spend all their time together, before both of them moved away from the locality. There was no fb or whatsapp , not even a mobile phone for contact and that was that. He wished he could meet them now, he wondered what were they even doing or how they looked. He recalled an incident. There was a strike and all shops were closed, but Arun was craving to eat cake. Anu put some whipped cream on a bun and made it look like a sponge cake, to cheer him up. Aru used to play happy birthday song in her piano. Arun decided to post the pic hoping that he would get in touch with them somehow. He posted, with caption, childhood troublemakers not forgotten, just re-remembered. He tagged them as Anu and Aru, and went to sleep.

There was a notification on his phone. Someone called Aradhana had messaged him on instagram.

So Arun, it took you 22 years to remember your Aru. I still play the birthday song if that rings a bell.

Aru, ofc, Aradhana was her full name, but he never used to call her that. It was the sweet mix of nostalgia and the anxious pangs of curiosity. He found his Aru, after all these years. He replied back excitedly, and they had so much catching up to do. Aru - “Mr. Director, do you still cry while watching Bambi or while you make movies for people like you to cry “. Arun - “What are you doing Ms Muscian, Playing my heart will go on? Still waiting for Jack and Rose to marry in the end “. Aru - “I am a part of a band, play the piano, you guessed it. Please make a movie with Daniel Radcliffe, my crush always, harry can spray magic everywhere”. Arun - “ Madam, there is still a longg wayy to go, lets see whats in store for me. “ Snehita - “ Arun, please drop me to Alishas house, such a irresponsible brother”.

Days went by, and there was happiness in Aruns life. He got one more notification, this time facebook, not instagram. It was from someone called Anusha. If you still crave for cake Arun, your Anu will milk cows to make whipped cream on freshly baked buns. I hope you are happy wherever you are Arun. It was his Anu, he replied after a while. Anu - “This is just a wave of happiness Arun, you have a sea of bliss that you will be drenched in. Believe me”. Arun - “So Miss Chef, are you still burning parathas and making sour curd, or did some miracle ever happen like remy from ratoutille helping you “. Anu - “Laughs. The parathas dont burn anymore, otherwise they would fire me from my restaurant. I dare you to try them, director ji. Do you still believe that there is a real jurrasic park”. Arun - “Not as much as you still waiting for your hogwarts letter to come through your chimney. Do you still have the wooden wand i carved out from the branch. “ Anu - “I do believe a patronus could come out of it. I have the friendship bracelet we three made with our initials. I wear it for luck at important times “. Arun - “I still wear that. We three should meet sometime. It would be one hell of a reunion”.

Snehita - “ Arun, are you going to drop me or not to Alishas house you piglet”.

Instantly, a whatsapp group formed with the title, “The golden trio”. Exchanges of laughter, images, quotes and so many many memories. Arun, Aru and Anu decided to meet in a bar on saturday evening.

Snehita - “ Arunnn, the bar is on the way to Alishas house, you actually have no excuses”. Arun - “I cant listen sis, Goodbye”. Arun put on his best tuxedo in a long time, clean shaved early in the morning. He tried to look his best, for some reason he was preparing more than he usually does, he doesnt know why but his heart has some different feeling about the meeting, maybe more than friendship, and he really doesnt know why. At the back of his mind, the letter and ARP kept floating on and off. Anu wore a simple navy knee length dress with sphagetti sleeves. She waxed her arms, and applied light lipstick. She was looking forward for the evening. Aru came in her own denim style, knee length boots, denim dungree and long sleeved shirt. Arun was the first one to reach the location. He ordered french fries which was the trios favourite as kids. Aru came and hugged him tightly, they chatted away without realising time. Anu entered some fifteen minutes later and they had a group hug. Anu - “What motivates you to make films, Arun ? “ Arun - “ Stories that would put a smile motivates me, not the story but the smile. What motivates you to cook, Anu, and you Aru, what motivated you to make music”. Anu - “I want to make food that makes a person never give up in life.”

Aru - “I want the applause and the limelights and the praise. Thats all” Here and there, Arun was scanning the place admist hushed murmurs between Aru and Anu. .They spoke on and on, and then Aru went straight to the mike.“Hi, I am Aradhana Prakash.I am here to dedicate this song to my friends, Anu and Arun. Dil Chahta Hai title song dedicated to our friendship.

They sang together over the whole song. Evergreen and vibrant always. After the song was played, the DJ announced “ Thank you for taking us down the memory lane, Aradhana Prakash”. There were three bright smiles to this. Taking this opportunity, the waiter handed a feedback sheet hoping to get a good response. Aru took her favourite ink pen and start filling it. In a furious attempt to make the pen work, a splash of ink fell on Aruns shirt. She didnt apologize, instead told, “Splash of ink should not stop his happiness”. It was a slow deja vu hitting Aruns mind. Ink , Dil Chahta hai song and mostly Aru’s full name (Aradhana Prakash), rang a bell in his head. (ARP) , was Arahana Prakash alias Aru his secret motivator all this while. It all fitted together, but still some hesitation lingered.

Snehita’s call for the umpteenth time again, asking him to pick her up from Alishas place. Arun cut the call angrily, and more confused than before. progress stops the days you drop your pen, not the day people splash ink at you. More conversations and selfies continued, but Aruns disturbed and confused mind was visible. Was it really Aru ? How did she know me these years? Why didnt she ever reveal ? So many questions but just no answers.Arun offered to drop both the girls home. Aru’s turn came first, thus Arun missed his lone time with her. He thought he would ask her about his troubling thoughts. Heavy hearted, Arun told her goodbye. He then dropped Anu to her house, and something was a little familiar about it. A voice, screaming Arunn , he knew it well, actually too well, belonged to his sister, Snehita. What was she doing here. Snehita - “ What are you doing here, Arunn?”. He bent down sheepishly. Snehita - “Arun, this is my friend Alisha, and her elder sister whom you dropped now, Anu “.

Arun just made sure he heard that right, Anu and Alisha were sisters. All this while, Anu was always within reach and he denied it by not dropping Snehita even once. Weird, that they never knew of the mutual friendship to a strong bond they had in childhood, but it feels more strong now, when Anu is around. He smiled at Anu, a confidant beautiful one, he had in years. He picked up Snehita , and went home. He was sleepless with his new found happiness around Anu and confusion around Aru.

He got up and found a letter on his table.

“We were so near yet so far”. Your ARP was always near you but you chose to cast her away. You were always the star, the brightest one, I wanted to be the night so that your shine could be seen brighter. When everyone decides to be the bright morning to blossom their bright dreams, I just wanted to be your dark night to brighten up your sparkling stars. Dont you remember Arun, in your AD struggling days, I was also struggling then as a caterer.

I was the caterer for the production house. I noticed by the bracelet you still had with your Name. I saw you through your downs and lowly lows. I wanted to be the support you never had, because I couldnt see you giving up, that is not you.

I left it to destiny to take this story wherever it wants, so I never revealed my identity, and admit it the curiousity does give you a harder push. I will be the darkest skies to make you twinkle, and darker skies when you are the soaring sun. You have miles to go but you will never ever give up, because ARP will never give up on you.

Yours supportively always,

ARP.

(Anusha Radhika Prakash)

Arun didnt know what to say. It was Anu all this while. Now he remembered little vaguely. Anu had two initials, something toddlers used to laugh at. It was her mothers and fathers name. My Mom and Dad love me a lot, its only fair and right , the way I have both in my heart, I have both of them in my name. Anu used to say in that age. How did he forget this, was it that long. He dressed up fast and knocked on Snehitas door.Snehita answered half asleep - “What happened Arun? “. Arun - “Lets go to Alisha’s house.” Snehita was shocked, was he really telling that. He hurried and knocked Anu’s room.

She opened the door, not expecting him so quickly. He looked at her and then he started crying like a baby. “We live in a world, where even our best friends might leave our hand. I have never been in contact for so many years, but you were there when i needed the most. You are not just my darkest sky, you are my milky way. I am never leaving you again. So foolish of me to think it was Aru all this time. It was you, it has always been you. The comforting smile you gave me without me knowing always meant something”.

After some beautiful moments, Anu spoke “Do you remember , I spoke from facebook, not instagram. I never saw the pic you posted. I am not in instagram. Alisha told me, of the pic and that she saw me holding the same pic some days ago, but I never told who it was. I realised destiny is playing its game and let it play its game”.

Arun smiled - “How could I have missed your initials and the beautiful reason behind it. You are the pioneer, wish the world followed this initial game. Every mother is in her childs heart but never in their name. Your kid will have double A, he winked”. It was a beautiful reuinion of Arun Ranjani Kumar and Anusha Radhika Prakash.

By V G Sathve