Read Online When Only Love Remains by Durjoy Datta - Free Book Online Page A

they would have probably worked.’
    ‘Blah.’
    And that was right. Devrat had literally seen Karishma shave her hairy legs. Like hairy legs. Like when the hair on your legs becomes long and they curl. Once you see that you can’t go back. You can’t fall in love with the girl ever again. Though Karishma was kind of cute. Small. Petite. Full lips. Big eyes. And a really cute face made of cupcakes, candy and smiles of little puppies.
    ‘The pizza place’s number is in my phone. Call them,’ Devrat says and throws his phone at her. She orders a pizza with minimal cheese and a lot of toppings, most of them vegetarian and none of which excites Devrat.
    ‘So how much are they paying you? Green Frog?’ she asks.
    ‘Not much. I am not doing a whole show, just a couple of songs. The owner’s girlfriend heard me play somewhere and asked for me. So, I am not really wanted there. It’s just a demanding girlfriend. Otherwise there is a techno-house band, Fried Jalebies, that’s playing there,’ Devrat smirks.
    ‘I see. You still don’t like dance music,’ she laughs.
    ‘I don’t have a problem with it,’ he says and lights up the first joint. ‘Just that . . .’
    ‘You can’t dance.’
    ‘Yeah. Whatever.’
    ‘Are your parents happy now with what you’re doing?’
    ‘My mom is okay with it. A little concerned, but my father still thinks I will give it all up and go back to college.’
    ‘And will you?’ asks Karishma.
    ‘I will try not to, but if nothing works out, I will have to,’ says Devrat.
    ‘It will work out.’
    ‘From where I stand, it doesn’t look like it will,’ sighs Devrat.
    ‘Stop being so negative all the time!’ snaps Karishma. ‘You’re performing at Green Frog. That means something, right?’
    ‘But not alone.’
    ‘Forget it,’ retorts Karishma.
    Devrat lights a cigarette.
    ‘Can you smoke after I’m gone?’ she begs. He complies and extinguishes the cigarette against a wall. ‘Now tell me. When are you going to start dating again? I have many single friends. And I think some of them already like you.’
    ‘Do they know I smoke?’
    ‘Maybe.’
    ‘Do they know my house looks like refugee camp?’
    ‘I don’t think they care.’
    ‘Do they know that I would look for Arundhati in them? Do they know that she’s going to come back one day? Do they know that once she does I’m going to tell her that I don’t need her? Do they know I talk like this?’
    ‘Not yet.’ Karishma rolls her eyes and throws a pillow at him. ‘You need to be over her. Aren’t people like you always buried in women?’
    ‘Not if you don’t want to.’
    ‘And why do you not want to?’ Karishma’s tone is almost begging. Like it’s her responsibility that Devrat is alone and depressed and is not getting any action.
    ‘You need to stop trying to get me with someone. Last time wasn’t that good. Oh! Is this why you’re trying so hard? You’re guilty?’
    Karishma looks at her feet. ‘Maybe.’
    ‘You don’t need to do that!’ exclaims Devrat.
    ‘Seriously,’ he continues, ‘It’s not that bad. Like today, I almost didn’t check Arundhati’s profile. And that’s new! I’m getting better. But I doubt that someone’s going to take Arundhati’s place in the near future.’
    ‘I’m happy for you then.’
    The doorbell rings. It’s the pizza guy. Karishma reaches out for her handbag but Devrat gets the door. He says, ‘I can pay. For now at least.’ A little later, Devrat has to leave for his recording, his first ever legitimate recording for a YouTube channel.
    ‘You’re not as big a failure as you make yourself out to be,’ says Karishma while leaving.
    ‘Maybe you’re right. I do have about twenty fans in Dehradun!’ quips Devrat.
    ‘Eh?’
    ‘You won’t get it,’ says Devrat.
    ~
    ‘Are you are telling us that NOW? And who’s this Karthika? Ask her to wrap up quickly. Devrat can’t wait that long,’ shouts Sumit on the phone. He’s uncharacteristically