Everyone in the group was seething with anger towards T.J. His track record of inappropriate pranks had pushed them to their limit, but this time he had truly crossed a line. They couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly motivate a friend to plan such a hurtful trick. Determined to address the issue together, they decided to confront him.
The following day, when T.J. arrived at the office, he was immediately met with a group of furious young men demanding an explanation for his despicable actions. He offered a sincere apology to Mani and the rest of the group, admitting that he had intended to be funny and hadn’t considered the impact it would have on his friends. T.J. went on to explain his elaborate scheme—he had sneaked into Mani’s room while he was at work the day before the lottery draw, rummaged through his pockets, and made note of one of his lottery ticket numbers. Later, he volunteered to be the one to call and obtain the winning numbers from the lottery office.
The group accepted T.J.’s apology, believing that he had genuinely learned his lesson and would change his ways. However, for Mani, it was a different story. T.J. had already overstepped boundaries with him in the past. Mani had poor eyesight and heavily relied on his prescription glasses. On one occasion, when Mani was tired and briefly took off his glasses to rest, T.J. snatched them and quickly affixed black papers he had prepared onto the lenses. Unaware of the alteration, Mani put his glasses back on and was immediately overcome with fear, shouting, “I can’t see! I can’t see!” T.J. found amusement in Mani’s distress, while everyone else was appalled by his sadistic behavior. They rushed to Mani’s aid, removed the glasses, and reassured him that his eyes were unharmed. T.J. knew all too well how sensitive Mani was about his vision, having been subjected to teasing by his classmates when he wore glasses during his elementary school years.
Mani, known for his loving, thoughtful, and compassionate nature, was adored by all his friends. He had always been good-natured and kind to everyone, including T.J. However, enough was enough, and Mani believed that T.J. needed to learn a valuable life lesson.
This group of young engineers happened to be quite popular among the local young girls, who had limited opportunities to meet or date guys. Several high school girls lived in the vicinity of their house, and though they couldn’t engage in direct conversation, their eyes and meaningful smiles conveyed their interest. As guests in the town, the young men hesitated to approach any local girls. However, the young girls easily obtained the house’s phone number and began making prank calls. The mere thought of marrying a young engineer filled their hearts with joy.
The young men would return home after work, eagerly anticipating the calls from the girls, which had become the highlight of their lives. Even though they didn’t know each other’s names, they would give each other clues to identify the girl and the guy she wanted to speak with. Among the girls, there were two sisters who resided on the third floor of an apartment building adjacent to the engineers’ residence. These sisters never divulged their numbers; instead, they would call when they had privacy at home and could talk freely. T.J. had connected with one of the girls. Being the most sociable among the group and having grown up in this town, he was well-versed in the customs and local traditions.
One day, a new voice called, asking for T.J., recognizing his facial clues. T.J. picked up the phone and engaged in a conversation that lasted a few minutes. Eventually, he brought the phone closer to his mouth to maintain privacy. The young girl mentioned that she had obtained his number from a friend, had seen him, and developed genuine feelings for him. For T.J., the more girls, the merrier. He returned from the call, confidently adjusting his belt, laughing, and bragging to his friends about his new girlfriend.
The phone calls between T.J. and the girl continued. She would specify the day and time when she could call to ensure privacy at home. After a few weeks of conversing, T.J. mustered the courage to ask if he could see her in person.
“Would it be possible for us to meet? I can come anywhere, anytime,” T.J. proposed.
“Oh no, absolutely not. That would be impossible,” she responded anxiously.
“I thought you liked me. You have seen me, but I have no idea what you look like.”
“If my father, brother, or even a girlfriend were to see me with you, it would create a scandal.”
“My intentions are pure. Our hearts are already connected. I just want to catch a glimpse of you, even from a distance.”
“I understand, but you must realize that this is a small town, and I can’t risk being caught meeting a boy.”
“I comprehend your concerns, but I know you are a courageous woman. You took the risk to reach out to me, and I admire that quality in a woman.”
“I’m still in high school, and you are an engineer. What if you see me, and I don’t match up to your expectations?”
“I love the relationship we have already built. I adore the way you speak. Your voice is like music to my ears. I am certain that your beauty matches the enchantment of your voice.”
“Do you truly love me?” she hesitantly asked.
“Of course! I do. I dream about you every night. In my dreams, I envision us walking hand in hand beneath the willow trees, gazing into your brown eyes, and professing my love for you.”
“How do you know my eyes are brown?”
“I am simply guessing. What color are they?”
“They are green, like my mother’s.”
“Really? I adore green eyes. From this moment on, I imagine you with sparkling green eyes. Additionally, I envision you with long, flowing brown hair.”
“Oh, I’ve got to go. My parents are coming home now. Bye,” she said abruptly, ending the call.
T.J., the once notorious playboy, found himself deeply in love. He became resolute in his determination to see this girl, no matter the consequences. His interest in other girls dwindled, and he requested that everyone keep the phone line free whenever she called. T.J. was undergoing a profound transformation. He was no longer the carefree, fun-loving, playful guy who always orchestrated parties and basked in the limelight. People around him couldn’t help but notice the changes. Could it be that he had fallen in love with someone solely through phone conversations? After all, he had a history of flitting from one romantic pursuit to another.
During their next conversation, T.J. persistently insisted on meeting her in person. He was willing to do anything to make it happen.
After a momentary pause, she cautiously spoke, “I would love to see you too, but we have to be extremely careful. You wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to me, right?”
“No, of course not. What kind of question is that?” T.J. responded sincerely.
“Are you truly willing to do anything?” she probed.
“Yes, anything,” T.J. affirmed without hesitation.
“I cannot meet you during the day in public. That’s completely out of the question. But what if I told you that I live next door to you?” she revealed.
“Really? You must be joking. In the adjacent building?” T.J. exclaimed, his excitement mounting.
“Yes, it’s true. Sometimes I catch glimpses of you in the backyard,” she confirmed.
“Oh, I would have never guessed that. How can I see you?” T.J. inquired eagerly.
“I’ve been thinking about it. Tomorrow night, my parents will be out until very late. We live in the third-floor apartment next to your two-story building and have access to the roof. Our rooftop is higher than yours. If you can bring a ladder to your roof, you can climb to my rooftop, and we can finally see each other and spend a few precious minutes together. I’ll be visible at 11:45 pm when it’s dark,” she explained, her voice filled with anticipation.
“Absolutely! Oh my God, finally, I’ll get to see you. I can’t wait,” T.J. responded with overflowing excitement.
“But promise me it will only be for a minute or two,” she requested cautiously.
“I promise! I am beyond ecstatic. I can practically hear my own heartbeat. I am deeply in love with you. I must go now and find a ladder. See you tomorrow night,” T.J. declared, brimming with anticipation.
T.J. was practically doing cartwheels in his mind. He couldn’t contain his excitement; it felt as if he couldn’t stay in his own skin. In less than 24 hours, he would finally see her. At work the next day, he found himself constantly glancing at the clock, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. He was completely preoccupied, lost in his thoughts. What would he say when he finally laid eyes on her? Would she allow him to hold her hand? Perhaps a kiss on her hand? Would a warm embrace be out of the question? His heart raced with every thought, his mind consumed by anticipation. However, a flicker of doubt emerged: What if she wasn’t as beautiful as he had imagined? He swiftly dismissed the thought, not wanting anything to tarnish his excitement.
Once home, he carefully retrieved a ladder from a nearby construction site and brought it to the roof while his colleagues were still at work. Though he felt a tinge of anxiety, his confidence overshadowed it. After dinner, when the men typically gathered for their card game, T.J. declined, mentioning that he had something important to attend to. Around 11 pm, he bid them all goodnight—a departure from his usual late-night routine.
In his room, he shaved again, put on a touch of cologne, and silently waited until everyone had retired for the night. As the clock ticked closer to 11:45, he ventured up to the roof, carefully setting up the ladder. Slowly and cautiously, he ascended the rungs, crossing over to the rooftop of the adjacent building, which stood about 10 feet higher. The surroundings were enveloped in darkness, save for the intermittent glow of a flickering street light that cast faint illumination on the roof. T.J. strained his eyes, eagerly scanning the area, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the beautiful girl who had captivated his heart for so long.
Unbeknownst to T.J., in the stillness of the night, Mani quietly made his way up to the roof and silently removed the ladder. With a contented smile, he returned to his bed.
Note: Lottery Ticket part I posted on 5/7/2023
EK, with love 