Day 111 November 2024
Three months... 151 days... That's all this journey is for me...I had thought I wouldn't reach out to anyone in these 151 days so that no one gets hurt when I leave...But you... you're an earthquake...Even if I close the door, you know how to break through the roof...Sigh, what a fate I have...Looks like even in these 151 days, peace isn't written in my destiny...
Personality, character... do they really matter?Maybe yes, maybe no... or maybe I just don't know...Saw you for the first time today...Black eyes... thick eyelashes... a nose red with anger and trembling lips...Your black hoodie... I've got plenty of hoodies myself, but yours felt the most special...Your fearless attitude... those piercing eyes... like embers burning in them...I know there's not much time, yet I already wish to see you again...
He wrote this and shut the diary, taking a deep breath as he drifted into memory.
FlashbackMorning Time
A boy was arranging his stuff in a room — he had probably just moved in.Just then, the doorbell rang, and he noticed a puppy nearby, looking at him with glistening eyes.
The boy walked slowly towards the door while the bell rang more aggressively.
"What a strange man… obviously it'll take time to walk, or should I fly to the door?" he muttered as he quickened his pace.
As soon as he opened the door, another boy barged into the hall, nearly colliding with him.
"Hey! This isn't a railway station that you just barge in without asking!" the first boy immediately snapped.
"This isn't your house either!" the new guy replied with a smile and tossed his bag onto the sofa.
"What nonsense is this... Can't you keep it properly?" the first boy snapped, irritated.
Sprawling onto the sofa, the second boy replied, "My house, my rules... Anyway, what are you doing in my house?"
He was still speaking when a middle-aged man came rushing in.
"Shrey..."
"Yes, that's me..." the first boy replied, clearly annoyed. "But first tell me, who is this?" he pointed at the second boy.
The middle-aged man looked a bit awkward. "Your roommate..."
"Dada..!" Shrey shouted as soon as he heard that.
"Calm down… he's not deaf," the second boy snapped, while his puppy had now come outside and was staring at Shrey too.
"Dada, I told you I wanted a single room... You said yes, only then I made the payment..."
"Shrey, listen to me son..." the man tried to reason.
"I don't want to hear anything, Dada... either he goes or you shift me somewhere else..."
"Listen, kid... First of all, mind your tone with Niranjan uncle... And what's with the constant 'Dada-Dada'? I get he's older than you, but he's not that old to be your grandpa."
"No, no... Shrey is Bengali, so 'Dada' means elder brother there..." Niranjan uncle clarified quickly.
"Dada, please do something... I can't live like this..." Shrey said, sounding serious now.
Niranjan sighed and said, "Shrey, come with me... I need to talk."
A little later
Even after Niranjan uncle tried to explain, Shrey's face was still grumpy.
"What... Three months?" Shrey said in shock.
"Hmm... Son, he urgently needed a place, that's why I agreed... It's just three months, please adjust..." Niranjan uncle pleaded.
"No uncle... you know I prefer living alone. I won't be able to do this, please..." Shrey shook his head.
"Alright then... I'll tell him to leave... what's the worst that'll happen? He'll spend a few nights on the street... shivering in the cold and starving..." Niranjan uncle said emotionally.
Shrey looked distressed. Niranjan uncle was about to walk away when Shrey finally said, "Fine Dada... But only for three months. That means 151 days. Not even a day more."
"Yes, of course, son..." Niranjan uncle replied, trying to hide his happiness.
Afternoon Time
A soft song echoed through the atmosphere...
We had walked with dreams of paradise,Dreams of flowers, dreams of love...Let's begin again from that turning point,Where everything was beautiful, and we were strangers...
"Excuse me... your puppy chewed my book..."Shrey, wearing his black hoodie, said to the boy standing in front of him — though his eyes were fixed on the puppy in the boy's lap that had just shredded his book.
"So...?" the second boy raised an eyebrow.
"How utterly shameless are you...? Your dog ruined my book, and you..." Shrey fumed.
The second boy laughed, picking up his puppy, "Good choice! Anyway, there was no need to read such boring books."
"Boring? This is classic literature!" Shrey said angrily, showing the torn pages.
"Well now it's not classic anymore... Now it's a dog's art piece!" the second boy laughed.
Shrey glared at him, and the second boy stared back at him from head to toe, making Shrey uncomfortable. Realizing this, the second boy quickly looked away.
"Mister... first get a hold of yourself... You had thrown that book in the hall yourself…"
"I placed it there..." Shrey said sharply.
"Whatever... if my Diamond hadn't come along, someone else would've ruined it anyway... so it's not our fault."
"Seriously...?" Shrey said in disbelief.
"Yes..." the boy replied just as firmly, and the puppy nodded along as if in agreement.
"Why are such foolish people around me...? How can I live with them...? They are so shameless and heartless..." Shrey muttered in anger.
"I know English as well..." the second boy said dryly.
Shrey glared at him and muttered to himself:
"Dada, aapni aamake kothay aatke rekhechen? Emon loker shathe aami kivabe bachbo?"("Dada, where have you trapped me? How am I supposed to survive with this kind of person?")
"Kotto ukhra aar maana! Taara upore, se ekta dushtu kukura!"("So rude and arrogant! On top of that, a wicked dog!")
"Dada, aami tomar ki dosh korechi je tumi aamake ebhabe shasti diccho?"("Dada, what wrong have I done to you that you're punishing me like this?")
"Dada, amar eka kapala! Tomake ki emon nishthur ebong bachai kora loker shathe thakte hobe?"("Dada, such misfortune I have! Did you really have to find such a cruel and annoying guy for me?")
"Taara upore, oi Raja Babur kukura taara! Yena aami taara chakar!"("And on top of it, that dog of Raja Babu's! As if I'm his servant!")
The second boy stood there with his mouth open, clearly not understanding a word.
Shrey walked away toward the room with a victorious smile.