There he was! Sitting at the same old corner of the cafe, next to the window.We have had a million dates at that particular spot.
I can see that he's nervous -quite contrary to the easy-going fellow I used to know.No,he hasn't seen me. Let me just give it a little time- for him to search for me in the crowd, probably the first time around.
I feel awed,by what time can do to people.It might seem unfair,what a span of a few years can do to a person.It robs him of all things he considered valuable and replaces it with things he never thought would matter.
The loud cheering of a bunch of youngsters brought me back. I think it's time to meet him. I got up and walked past the tables, to the corner ,where he sat. I kept my eyes on him.He was searching,fidgeting his car key,slicking back his hair, which I never knew he had grown so long.
He was about to see me. I knew it precisely the moment before our eyes locked. All these years had done nothing to those dark black-holes, I used to admire. At least there's something that withstood the test of time.
He stiffened as he stood up.Is that a smile I see ,curving around his lips? I don't know, I was never good at guessing anyways!
"Hey!"
"I'm sorry! , I'm late" - I said as we did an awkward handshake.
"Oh, that's fine"- He said trying to sound casual.
We shared a few minutes of awkward silences. I was in short of words too. After all, what was there to say? After all these years? What difference does it make?
The waiter broke in our tiny cobweb of silence. I was taken aback, when he ordered our usual snack! I didn't know that they still had them in their menu.
"So you remember it?"- I asked.
"You wanted me to forget? "
" I don't know"- I said. I really didn't know.
That was him.His 'typical' questions,when he gets serious, are rated as the 'World's No.1 Unanswerable Questions' . At least for me.
He broke the silence,when the snack was on the table.
"I didn't mean to be rude.It's just seeing you last day that made me upset"- He said.
"Upset?! , I didn't mean to be of trouble.I just wanted to meet you.
I wouldn't want to upset you!"- I managed to say.
"No, no, It's just me.It's been a long time Riya.
I don't know what to say".- He said
"You are pretty much the same as far as I remember". He just smiled in return.
Oh!,How I used to crave for those dimples.I couldn't hide the excitement either.And yeah,he knew it too. I blushed in embarrassment. I had to say something!!
"So you landed up in a corporate job uh?" - I asked.
"Yeah and you started writing as well ,I guess"- He was quick to respond.
"Sort of"
"A book published and another one on the way, 'Sort of', wouldn't be enough"- He said.
"Oh, You read that?" - I couldn't contain my shock. Now this is something interesting , I thought to myself.
"Come on, I was in that book, how could I not read?" He said. It was true, I couldn't deny it either.
"That wasn't entirely you.You don't disappear in the book"- Haha Checkmate I smirked mentally.
"I get that"-He said looking down at his coffee.
I didn't know what to tell to this guy,who had eaten up a hell lot of my sleep already.
After 4 years of vanishing into thin air,here he is- sipping his coffee in front of me,with the evening sun making everything about him shine.
No!, you can't be angry on a guy like that! Did he know what happened after? Wait !, Did he 'wanted' to know?
"What are you thinking?"- He interrupted.
"Just nothing."- I smiled.
"I wanted to say that your book didn't have a fair ending!"
"Oh!, I didn't know you thought like that,but why?"
"I mean why does she has to die ?"
"Everybody dies don't they?"
"It was very disturbing"- He paused.
"Interesting to know"- I said it with a smile playing on my lips.I mentally kicked myself for being happy that it actually bothered him.Meanwhile, a better part of my brain hinted that he isn't entirely over it either.
I decided to push it.
"Why does it disturb you? After all it's just fiction.That girl in the book, she doesn't exist."
He didn't answer.Instead looked straight into my eyes and I knew that there's no going away.
"I have to go,it's time."- I said, rather bluntly.
His face changed.But it lasted only for a second.He regained his composure and said in a 'matter-of-fact" tone.
"Oh,you can leave" He finally said.
"It was good seeing you Akash"
"You too"
As I stood up,collected my bag and turned around to leave, I could feel his eyes on me.
"Riya!" He called out.
"What?"
"Next time, don't do that"
"Do what?"
"Don't let her die,maybe there's a twist". He stared at me for a while.
I felt immobilized.
"Lets' see."- I said as I turned back and walked away.
Was he smiling?
Like I told you, I was never good at guessing!
Roshni Ravindran
@of.both.worlds
I can see that he's nervous -quite contrary to the easy-going fellow I used to know.No,he hasn't seen me. Let me just give it a little time- for him to search for me in the crowd, probably the first time around.
I feel awed,by what time can do to people.It might seem unfair,what a span of a few years can do to a person.It robs him of all things he considered valuable and replaces it with things he never thought would matter.
The loud cheering of a bunch of youngsters brought me back. I think it's time to meet him. I got up and walked past the tables, to the corner ,where he sat. I kept my eyes on him.He was searching,fidgeting his car key,slicking back his hair, which I never knew he had grown so long.
He was about to see me. I knew it precisely the moment before our eyes locked. All these years had done nothing to those dark black-holes, I used to admire. At least there's something that withstood the test of time.
He stiffened as he stood up.Is that a smile I see ,curving around his lips? I don't know, I was never good at guessing anyways!
"Hey!"
"I'm sorry! , I'm late" - I said as we did an awkward handshake.
"Oh, that's fine"- He said trying to sound casual.
We shared a few minutes of awkward silences. I was in short of words too. After all, what was there to say? After all these years? What difference does it make?
The waiter broke in our tiny cobweb of silence. I was taken aback, when he ordered our usual snack! I didn't know that they still had them in their menu.
"So you remember it?"- I asked.
"You wanted me to forget? "
" I don't know"- I said. I really didn't know.
That was him.His 'typical' questions,when he gets serious, are rated as the 'World's No.1 Unanswerable Questions' . At least for me.
He broke the silence,when the snack was on the table.
"I didn't mean to be rude.It's just seeing you last day that made me upset"- He said.
"Upset?! , I didn't mean to be of trouble.I just wanted to meet you.
I wouldn't want to upset you!"- I managed to say.
"No, no, It's just me.It's been a long time Riya.
I don't know what to say".- He said
"You are pretty much the same as far as I remember". He just smiled in return.
Oh!,How I used to crave for those dimples.I couldn't hide the excitement either.And yeah,he knew it too. I blushed in embarrassment. I had to say something!!
"So you landed up in a corporate job uh?" - I asked.
"Yeah and you started writing as well ,I guess"- He was quick to respond.
"Sort of"
"A book published and another one on the way, 'Sort of', wouldn't be enough"- He said.
"Oh, You read that?" - I couldn't contain my shock. Now this is something interesting , I thought to myself.
"Come on, I was in that book, how could I not read?" He said. It was true, I couldn't deny it either.
"That wasn't entirely you.You don't disappear in the book"- Haha Checkmate I smirked mentally.
"I get that"-He said looking down at his coffee.
I didn't know what to tell to this guy,who had eaten up a hell lot of my sleep already.
After 4 years of vanishing into thin air,here he is- sipping his coffee in front of me,with the evening sun making everything about him shine.
No!, you can't be angry on a guy like that! Did he know what happened after? Wait !, Did he 'wanted' to know?
"What are you thinking?"- He interrupted.
"Just nothing."- I smiled.
"I wanted to say that your book didn't have a fair ending!"
"Oh!, I didn't know you thought like that,but why?"
"I mean why does she has to die ?"
"Everybody dies don't they?"
"It was very disturbing"- He paused.
"Interesting to know"- I said it with a smile playing on my lips.I mentally kicked myself for being happy that it actually bothered him.Meanwhile, a better part of my brain hinted that he isn't entirely over it either.
I decided to push it.
"Why does it disturb you? After all it's just fiction.That girl in the book, she doesn't exist."
He didn't answer.Instead looked straight into my eyes and I knew that there's no going away.
"I have to go,it's time."- I said, rather bluntly.
His face changed.But it lasted only for a second.He regained his composure and said in a 'matter-of-fact" tone.
"Oh,you can leave" He finally said.
"It was good seeing you Akash"
"You too"
As I stood up,collected my bag and turned around to leave, I could feel his eyes on me.
"Riya!" He called out.
"What?"
"Next time, don't do that"
"Do what?"
"Don't let her die,maybe there's a twist". He stared at me for a while.
I felt immobilized.
"Lets' see."- I said as I turned back and walked away.
Was he smiling?
Like I told you, I was never good at guessing!
Roshni Ravindran
@of.both.worlds
Waiting .... For the next part
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