Sweet 16

By Shruti S Agarwal, Nicole B. Cabral and Manmohan Sadana

At 16, embarking on the journey from adolescence to adulthood, each

day is a chapter in the book of self-discovery and growth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Mar 4, 2024
• ISBN: 9789361726668

Book preview

The Stranded

By Shruti S Agarwal

The Hallway

12.32 am

No light, no movements no noi- Ding!" said the elevator as it reached the floor hallway. The light in the elevator spreads out in the hallway and the sounds it made killed the dullness on the floor. Abhi comes out of its door and his entrance livens up the floor. As he starts walking towards his flat at the end of the hallway the elevator door closes automatically behind him taking away all the light that was left in the floor. And Abhi took the life away from it by taking his presence as he reaches the far end of the hallway, unlocks the flat door and walks in. The door is shut loud like a small bang which concludes with silence all over again.

5.32 am

The hallway stays in the same state for 5 hours after which the slowly bluing in horizon appears at the end. As the sky becomes more visible due to pre-rise sunlight, the floor is found to have 5 other similar doors as Abhi’s equidistant from each other, 5 on each side. Flat no. 1305 opens and a middle-aged couple walks out of it all suited up and take the elevator. 

5.34 am

2 minutes later Flat no. 1306 opens up and a 20-ish girl walks out to take the elevator with her headphones, sneakers and shorts on. She is welcomed by the milk man coming out of the elevator, who watches her rear as she walks in the lift. While the milk man drops the milk packets at all the 6 doors, the newspaper guy walks in from the second elevator and slides in the neatly folded newspapers through the bottom of 2 of the flats and walks back along with the milk man in the elevator.

5.59 am

After 25 minutes the floor is completely illuminated by the rising sun rays and the car noises from the roads set the background noise for the day. An old man comes out of Flat no. 1305 and knocks on the flat across the hall through the bell for his old pal. The door opens and the two old men greet each other with a laughter and take the elevator down. 

6.34 am

Flat no. 1303 and 1304 opens 35 minutes later with the bunch of kids racing to the elevator. Their fathers all dressed up for work come out of the apartments one by one with the kids bags while each of the kid claims he or she won. Right after they walk in the elevator. Flat no. 1305 opens and a woman walks out of the door with her daughter and run towards the lift. She keeps looking at her wrist watch for time as she waits for the elevator to arrive so that she could drop her kid to school and then go for work.

8.33 am

2 hour later all the milk at the doors is disappeared except at one door. A sweeper is seen cleaning the floor while two 20-ish girls come out of the Flat no. 1306 and walk aside the sweeper towards the lift to go for work. 

10.27 am 

Another after 2 hours the door at Flat no. 1301 opens finally and Abhi comes out to take the milk while he is still sleepy.

10.58 am

30 minutes later Abhi walks out of the door with his briefcase and drops some trash bags into the floor dustbin. He notices Flat no. 1303 door half opened and a rangoli design in front of it. The door gets shut quickly. He then picks up his walking pace and enters the elevator.

11.58 pm

For the next 13 hours, hallway experienced residents and delivery guys moving between elevator and the doors, kids playing, watchmen on a floor round, Sunlight and sounds fading away and ghostly silence and dark pouring in.

12.32 am

3 youngsters walk out of the elevator, tip-toeing their way towards Flat 1301 and ringing the doorbell frequently for 2 minutes. They keep looking at each other’s faces after ringing. One of them calls Abhi on the phone, who is found walking out of the elevator door on a phone call. They give each other greeting hugs and smiles and walk in the door.

The Fantastic Four

Ali, Prachi and Uday make some space to sit around the mess in Abhi’s living room. What’s wrong with your hair? Abhi gets curious after noticing the ‘hairy spikes’ on Uday’s head while Ali and Prachi laugh at him. I forgot the helmet and the wind did their work on the way Abhi nods on Uday’s reply and goes kitchen to wash and get whiskey glasses. 

Whoa! Whoa! How did you know we got ‘Old monk’? Ali questions Abhi as he gets glasses. Well it’s been over a month you guys have started hanging out here. Its Saturday night …. So you might want to get wasted and crash here… and just like last Saturday-……. wait a minute, did you say ‘Old monk’? Will you for once stop being college kids? No thank you…. I will stick to my ‘Teachers’. 

Abhi gets his scotch from the kitchen and pours his own glass without offering anyone else. Ali, Prachi and Uday stare at each other while Abhi goes down his first drink. Wow! That was totally badass. You didn’t even wait for us to say ‘Cheers’. Prachi comments on Abhi while Ali starts pouring the three remaining glasses with rum.

"To our guruji and my manager, Uday raises a toast for Abhi. Hear, Hear! Everyone raises their glasses and takes their first drink. Ali says, I got to give to Uday. He’s really got some balls drinking with his boss along with his best friends, like it’s no big deal. Abhi might be twice our age but he is quite sporting for a 50-year old Prachi adds further. Its 53" Abhi corrects Prachi.

Exactly! That’s what we admire about you. You are a maverick. You are proud of your age. You never married and you don’t give 2 shits about all the fuss people talk behind your back. Uday says. What fuss? What talks? Prachi asks. Uday replies with a slight hesitation but gets to it with ease, Well there are many colleagues who keep praising his dedication for his work. But there are still some who may not agree.

So what? World is full of shmucks. I bet there is at least one living next door. Prachi says. Abhi responds with a smile and says Work is all I got. An old man has to survive too. Who’s that? Uday asks while looking at the window across the hallway with a grin on his face. While Ali and Prachi join him, Abhi doesn’t move a bit and replies If she has that new undercut hairstyle and black lipstick, then forget about her.

Yeah but why? Uday asks She is out of my league or something. Abhi explains Yes that too and I believe like work you would get fully committed her and you may not be okay with it but she’s got four boyfriends or ‘fuck buddies’ as she calls them. OH… That makes me feel pride… and sad. But how do you know all this…. are you one of her boyfriends…? Uday asks.

Was. She lived here. I had my own needs she had hers. Now we are just neighbors cum friends. I am glad she is having fun now. Abhi replies. How is that fun? Meaningless sex with multiple dudes. One of them was old… no offence Abhi (Abhi smiles back and raises his glass)....... that’s so cheap, what about her parents, how are society members letting her live here. Who the hell does she think she is female Casanova or Charlie Harpress or playgirl? She is even sitting with her legs open… What a bitch! Ali responds.

Abhi interrupts in wonder Alright before you start calling her profane names, let me stop you right there. I thought the millennials were progressive enough to not judge someone without knowing them at all. Uday seconds Abhi, Yeah buddy… you sound just like those internet comments. But what about those guys she sleeps with? Do they know about her? Prachi asks Abhi.

Abhi answers I don’t know but if they do I am sure they are also in just for some action. But I am kinda surprised that you admire a person like me yet you think Tammy is wrong. Prachi asks again Speaking of person like you, why are you so different? Oh, c’mon Prachi, you know he never answers that question. He keeps dodging it. We are never going to find out why Ali answers for Abhi while Abhi goes down on full glass of rum.

Anybody in for Pizza? Abhi asks while everyone else replies with a yes. Abhi orders 2 large Pizzas on his phone. OK. Let’s get straight to it. Did you ever regret not marrying at all? Prachi asks Abhi again. Abhi notices the curiosity on everyone’s face and answers after taking a deep breath To be frank, it does suck sometime. But I still believe that marrying someone wouldn’t have changed that much. I mean if you are not going to be fully satisfied eventually then why not just do it by focusing on yourself.

Uday interrupts Abhi But you are clearly basing this on divorce stats. But there are still some cases of happy marriage. I mean I don’t know there would definitely be somewhere…. Out there…. You know… Yes… like our parents. Prachi and Ali second Uday. Abhi continues with a smirk Yes… that would be my generation… flag bearers of compromise, self-righteousness and traditions. Perhaps they didn’t mind getting burdened with more responsibilities.

Ali says But what made you stand out the herd…. Never mind you are not going to answer that anyway. Abhi replies Well sometimes there are priorities or a will to take control of your life or heartbreaks or even the feeling of always being off-guard. Vague answer… but better. At least you did not ignore it completely Ali responds.

What about you two lovebirds …. Have you talked to your parents yet? Abhi asks Ali and Prachi. Prachi says It’s too soon to decide. We have been dating for just like a year and that thing about being off-guard, I don’t want that to happen yet Ali nods with a slight disappointment and Abhi says No matter what happens in future it’s good that you know what you are not fuzzy about the marriage thing. Also, please don’t think just because I did not choose to marry doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Or else you are going to lose just too much.

The doorbell rings. Uday says That must be the Pizza. I will get it. Thanks beta. I will go take my pills. Abhi replies and leaves the room with others stunned and looking at each other’s faces in awe. Uday says What was that! and answers the door. Ali notices Tammy coming out of her door while taking the door. They have a brief eye contact before Tammy enters lift with the delivery man and Abhi closes the door.

Uday with a blushed face says She is kind of hot! Prachi says You heard Abhi, not your type. What does he know? May be still insecure about him Ali says. Few hours later everyone is asleep in the living room. Uday lies snoring on the bean bag with the last slice of the unfinished Pizza slowly slipping from his hands back to the pizza box. Ali and Prachi sleep on the couch in a hugging position. Abhi goes to his bedroom to get some sheets and spreads