Rajeev is screwed.

Chapter 5: Your name is Positive, HIV positive

Miss Jolie and lord Ganpati were witnesses to a violent physical fight as the two men got uncontrollable. A final kick on Rajeev s groin triggered his downfall. He was thrown out of the house along with his books and the rest of his luggage. The man was extremely hurt physically and mentally. His love story was still incomplete. Neha didn’t break up with Nandan, but Nandan did break up with Rajeev. May be Nandan and Neha will live together peacefully, “they shouldn’t, she shouldn’t “ Rajeev shouted as he gathered his baggage and could think of only one place he could go, the FCUK Ganpati. Far away he could see Neha through the window, still winking and whispering “For you”. Rajeev’s blood boiled.

“Here’s your room” said Mahesh as he handed a bottle of dettol, cotton and some band aids to Rajeev. The two men spoke about Raj’s miseries over a bottle of Royal Challenge. The whisky tasted bitterer, but it did help in the “move on” process.

“Go on; get some other woman, you are good looking, she s not the only girl in the world. There are other womans.” Mahesh said exhibiting his English speaking skills.

“Women Mahesh, women!” Rajeev corrected signaling him to refill his drink.

“Haan, wohi. Go get some chokris, red street, the road parallel to pahargunj, go straight to the 2^nd house on the right, her name is Kamala Devi, nice figure” Mahesh said winking.

Neha’s curves hurt him more; he had spent five nights with her, five glorious nights. He wanted sex, the batsman in him was in full form and all charged up, all he needed was a pitch and a couple of balls to play with.

“Chal” he said.

“Aaj” asked a worried Mahesh.

“I want to show that bitch she is not the only one and I really need to go.”

“Tu ja” said Mahesh.

Rajeev borrowed five hundred rupees from Mahesh, covered all his wounds with cotton, combed his hair and left. The 21 days that followed meant 23 women. One woman every day, with the exception of Sundays for two. He always preferred the lights to be turned out; he switched his Neha bulb on and let his swimmers out. He tried to find Neha Sharma in every woman he had. He carried a red rose to Red Street every day hoping to find Neha. The women made money, and Rajeev gained experience. Every time the paanwala on the street shouted out “Raj shaab, aaj kitna ?” to which Rajeev signalled one or sometimes two with his fingers.

“Abe, stop now” Mahesh said as he saw Rajeev getting dressed for another encounter with a fake Neha.

“Bimari lagegi, kabhi check kiya ?”

“Check kar le” Mahesh said leaving the room to take an order.

Bimari, disease, Rajeev was shivering; the comb had fallen on the floor.

“Mahesh, Mahesh!, ek minute andar aa” said a frightened Rajeev.

“Dr. Sanjay, I’ve spoken to him already, just go” Mahesh said and handed him a card.

Today, after 2 months and 28 days, lord Ganpati was blessed with the opportunity of seeing Rajeev’s face. The man cried, he wept like a baby. He asked for forgiveness, for a last chance. Nothing moved, everybody remained silent, including the temple bells.

3 hours later

Tears trickled down Rajeev’s face as he read his report, it said HIV positive. Somewhere far all the 24 women including Neha seemed to wink and whisper “for you”. His eyes had turned red as he reached a store that sold guns.

“I need a gun” said the adolescent Rajeev looking discretely into the owners eyes.

“License?”

“Listen! You give me a gun now and if I do what I want to I’ll pay you the amount you ask”

Tonight it seemed the whole world wanted to see Rajeev‘s downfall. The owner agreed. With a red rose in his left hand and the pistol in his right Rajeev walked towards 13^th cross pahargunj. He knocked on the door.

Nandan opened the door; one punch on the neck was enough to put him down unconscious. Neha sat on the couch, shocked.

“You sleep with me tonight or die” Rajeev said displaying both his possessions.

“I don’t want to”

“At gun point you will” Rajeev said pointing the gun to her forehead.

Rajeev was stinking. Neha didn’t have a choice. It was forced love. Rajeev kept laughing every time Neha cried. The pistol was still in his hands. The night passed, Neha woke up to find herself alone on the bed. No pistol, but there was a red rose. A piece of paper was fluttering on the table by the opened window. Neha got up and opened the note to read it.

Sanjay clinic

Rx

Patient name: Rajeev Kumar

Present of HIV in blood: POSITIVE

She looked out of the window, Rajeev stood far away winked at her and whispered “For you!”.

P.S: Thanks Shwetha for the editing! :-)