1st June, 2021

Everything has changed.

I have resigned from my job at Infosys and I am simply staying at my home.

As far as the news is concerned, it is clearly stated that -

"ABHIMANYU MANTRI committed suicide from the TERRACE of IIM INDORE."

This is the basic news headline and beneath the headline, the story is as follows -

"Abhimanyu Mantri, the employee at Infosys, was a talented graduate from IIM INDORE in the Integrated Course.

He committed suicide by jumping from the terrace of IIM INDORE.

Rumors say that his estranged girlfriend - Kavya Mundhra, had also committed suicide from the same spot, 5 years ago.

The reason for both the suicides - still remain unknown.

I switched off the TV, and simply smiled at my luck, thinking -

At least, after their death, I was successful enough to re-unite these two estranged lovers, at their favorite spot.

Taking into consideration the fact, that I myself ruined my life, as I still love my MAN.

I was sitting in the balcony of my house, when my mom suddenly called out my name.

I walked inside my room, to find my mom - holding a red bag - my clandestine asset.

I had tears in my eyes as I snatched it from her, rushed towards the balcony and threw it on the table.

Few of the articles - simply fell down, out of the bag.

My personal diary, my favorite pouch with all my important articles, that Prega News Pink Colored box and a few more.

I emptied the bag as each of the articles, fall down and then came out - THE DIARY.

The diary that Abhimanyu Mantri had gifted me.

From the day, I last saw Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri, I had stopped writing my diary.

I had promised that I will never open that book again, in my life.

But this book, which I held in my hand, was a different book.

An unused, well packed diary which I had not opened yet.

I sat on the chair in the balcony, planning to open it. One had to enter a 4 digit code, to open the diary.

At first, I tried - 0000. (the default code - used for the unused diaries).

IT DID NOT UNLOCK.

I again tried - 1234.

STILL, IT DID NOT UNLOCK.

Later, I tried several other common codes like 1111, 2222, 3333 etc, but to no avail.

I was frustrated.

At first, I dropped it down on the floor.

"Iska code kya hain?" I tried to recollect, if Abhi had ever informed me, about any unlock code.

After 5 minutes, I picked up the diary and tried the code - 2904 (29th April - my birthdate), still IT DID NOT OPEN.

I checked the brand name on the diary, and was about to call the company, before which, I decided to take another chance.

I tried the code of my last PERSONAL DIARY - the diary in which I used to write everything, but now I had abandoned.

I was capricious and anxious at the same time. Taking a deep breath, I carefully tried the code - 2 9 0 9.

(2909 - Abhimanyu Mantri's birthday - 29th September)

And to my greatest astonishment, it OPENED.

I was scared, as I realized that Abhimanyu Mantri had already set a new code for this diary.

When I opened the diary for the first time, it already had the words AYESHA THAKUR MANTRI, written on the first page - which we usually call - the Index.

I had tears in my eyes, as I turned the page.

The first page was already filled. And I was shocked to see that.

I hurriedly turned the pages and noticed that the first 3 to 4 pages, were already filled in black. And it was Abhi's handwriting.

It read -

Dear Ayesha,

I am not sure of the fact that while you are reading this, I am there with you or not.

But I have a single request - please keep a big, cute smile on your face - while you are reading my words.

Right from the moment, you entered my life - you always asked me to tell you THE WHOLE TRUTH, THE ENTIRE TRUTH and nothing but - THE TRUTH.

So, here I am, telling you THE TRUTH.

I know the fact, that you love me, more than I love myself.

And, I also know the fact - that because of your love - you kept the code of your previous personal diary - 2909.

2909 - My birthdate.

Therefore, to keep you habituated with the same code -

Taaki tumhari AADAT bani rahe -

I have kept the same code to your new personal diary - 2909.

To add on to this, let me reveal you, some more TRUTHS.

I know that you had a crush on me, when you and Kavya were friends - during the IIM INDORE tenure.

Kavya had already told me, about you - Ms. Ayesha Thakur.

The first day, when you entered in the Award Ceremony of Infosys, at our very first meeting, I had asked you -

"Have me met before?"

To which you answered- "NO".

At that instant itself, I knew - that you were lying.

The very first day I saw you, after 4 years of depression, I had this thought in my heart, that I have found a girl -

"Jisse sirf mujhse hi nahi, meri zindagi se bhi pyaar hain."

I promise Ayesha, before I met you - I hated Filter Coffee.

But just to see that smile on your face - I can drink, one hundred cups of Filter Coffee.

And yes, when you mistakenly left your red bag at my home, I did not read your diary.

But I definitely saw that page of the poem, which had the initials - MM - written at the bottom.

At that very instant itself, I was sure that you knew/ you had some information about the relationship between - Kavya Mundhra and Abhimanyu Mantri.

I was sure that you already knew about my past story a.k.a my dark past.

Lastly, on your birthday itself, after the celebration on your terrace, while you were still upstairs with uncle, aunty and Sara,
I and Shreya - went downstairs to get something.

That time, when I entered your room, for the very first time, you had left your 'CLANDESTINE ASSET' open on your bed.

Although it was dark inside, since the lights were put off, nevertheless - that PINK PREGA NEWS BOX was visible.

I was startled, when I looked at the box and then I noticed the initials - KM - on one corner of the box.

To add on to this, the manufacturing date on the box - was of the year 2014. Hence, this increased my suspicion, automatically.

I could notice that your mobile phone was ON during the narration of my INDORE STORY and I could easily guess that you had the recording option ON.

Also, I had suspected, that someday or the other, you will call me to IIM INDORE.

But after all these observations, I still followed and accepted - whatever you told me to do - just because of one reason -

"Tumhari inn baaton ki,

Ek AADAT si ho chuki thi.

Aur zindagi mein kabhi bhi,

Mujhe iss AADAT se,

Chutkara nahi chaiye tha!"

"I LOVE YOU AYESHA!"

Two big tears, fell from my eyes - as the page got wet.

I wiped my face.

Opened the next blank page of the diary and started writing -

**********************************

CHAPTER 1

"Kavya...Kya hua Kavya ko?" I spoke, giving an incensed at her statement.

"Bol, Kya hua Kavya ko? Arre Bol na....? I shouted at my room-mate, who had just rushed to our room, saying that Kavya is no longer with us.

************************************

I started writing this book, titled "AADAT".

Because, my Abhi had asked me, to write a book on our life.

"Aur ab,

Mujhe uski inn baaton ki,

Ek AADAT si ho chuki thi.

Aur zindagi mein kabhi bhi,

Mujhe iss AADAT se,

Chutkara nahi chaiye tha!"

"I LOVE YOU ABHI!"

"Ek AADAT si ho gayi hain, tumhe yaad karne ki

Ab isse Pyaar kahe ya Pagalpan

Main nahi jaanti."

Please do not forget, to read the EPILOGUE.

The EPILOGUE - is definitely one of the most important chapter of this book.