The Ominous Birthday Comet

I have tried my hands at a short story. Please bear with me if I have made any mistakes!

     "26, November 26!". I had a shock of my life when she uttered that. How was it possible? Can it really be true or some wicked mind was at play in the background? This is going to haunt me. Oh, wait, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Damodar, aged 25, an average student. I am a normal guy. If I am walking in a crowd, 90% chances are that you wouldn't find me remarkable. So what had shocked me? Let me tell you my side of the story. I was into my second year in engineering when the story begins. I had no interest in studies, primarily because I was forced into it in the first place. I was more interested in the culinary sciences. But my parents would have none of it. So, engineering happened. I had cleared the first year of my engineering remarkably well, considering my lack of interest.

     There was a girl in my class whom I was interested in. Vidya! She had eyes that spoke volumes of expression. She carried herself well and had a dignified persona. She was academically very good and obviously the teachers' pet! I was her antithesis – rugged, unkempt hair, ragged attire and a persona that repelled teachers like magnets with like poles. Attempts were made from my side to have a conversation with her, but most of them ended in failures. Thankfully, my one sided affair was known only to my two best friends which kept the rumor mills away. One of them suggested to me that I could go and talk to her on her birthday on the pretext of wishing her. It was a good one. The day - November 26 - also arrived and I couldn't hold myself back. She was dressed in a beautiful blue salwar kameez which sparkled when she walked. She wore a tiny auspicious holy ash on her forehead which accentuated her beauty. I tried to wish her in the morning, but wasn't able to go near her as my class girls were hounding her on all sides. I managed to get hold of her in the afternoon, just before lunch and wished her. She just smiled and gave me a "Thank you!" in return. I was at a loss for words and in the few moments I wasted, she walked away. November 26 – What a wonderful day! I can never forget that day. Two years passed away and I finally proposed to her before the final year exams. It was a disaster. She calmly brushed off my proposal. I wasn't exactly convincing and she had an iron will with a determination of an armor. Her reply made it clear. In short, she meant, "You can try harder and harder each time, but your situation is hopeless!". This time, I walked away, distraught.

     I got a job at a software firm and my training started in earnest. Still wallowing in remorse at my love failure, I was struggling to find my feet in the IT industry. I swore to myself that I would never fall in love again. I was talking to myself about it in the training class, when I heard a faint "Hi!" address me. I turned around and saw her. She introduced herself as Keerthika. She was petite and had a good smile. "Hi, Keerthi", I replied with the most pleasant tone I could probably muster. Keerthi and myself became good friends during the training period. She would help me with my assignments and tests. I would help her by eating her huge lunch which her mom prepared for her. Our batch had an outing and we went to a shopping mall. Keerthi also accompanied us. I was messaging her on the way back. It was mostly messages which were related to our eating and sleeping patterns. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I got a message from her which simply said, "I love you". I replied,"What?". I was shocked. I never expected it. I spoke to her during the training in person and conveyed the message that I couldn't reciprocate her love as I felt that I was unable to give a commitment from my side. She did not speak at that time. The next day, she asked my birthday in order to buy me a gift. "April 17. When is yours?". "November 24. Actually my original birthday is November 26, but my star birthday is November 24". You got to be kidding me! November 26! Again! I mentally patted myself saying that it was just a coincidence. After the end of the training period, I joined the company and started working. I kept in touch with Keerthi. Keerthi did not give up on me yet and reminded me subtly every time she messaged me. I felt sympathy for her, but not love, and kept a distance. Very soon, I grew tired of the job and joined an MBA after a year in the IT industry.

     I took up marketing and enjoyed my two year tenure as a student. The MBA was eventful and I passed out with flying colors. I got a job in a marketing company. Keerthi married a doctor just before I joined the marketing company. I did not attend her wedding as I felt it would be unwise to do so. I still held memories of my past experiences with a strange kind of wonder. The training period in the marketing company was taxing and I hardly had a break. After a week, my batch had a break after the training and we were having a chat. There were just three girls in our group and all of them, bar one, were talkative. As is the norm, I was strangely attracted to the girl who was silent. Her name was Sathya. She had blazing good looks and soft wavy hair. She rarely talked and when she did, it was usually to her female companions. Gradually, towards the end of the training period, she started talking to others as well and I found her to be engaging. The guys were asking everybody about their birthdays, eager to find out those whose birthdays fell in the next month, in the idea of having a 'treat'. The silent girl, Sathya's turn came soon. She said that her birthday was in November. A slow chill crept up my spine. Perspiration started coating my forehead as my past started to come back in bits and pieces. I asked her,"When is your birthday in November?". And then.......it happened. "26.November 26!".

I hope the story was at least readable. I titled it as Ominous Birthday Comet, as comets usually follow a specific cycle and return back after a period of time, in relation to the birthdays of the girls. Please give your feedback for the story and feel free to comment!