Unspoken Memories 1

31^st December, 2016 11:50 PM:

She: “Hi!”

He: “Hey!”

He adjusted his glasses and looked into her playful brown eyes with a smile on his face. She looked pretty as always.

She: “I hope I am not keeping you from anything?”

He: “Not at all.”

He remembered the last time they talked to each other. Things didn’t go well.

She: “How was your day?”

He: “It was okay-ish. You know, the usual, work and chores. What about you? Did you make any new friends?”

She: “I tried to make some, but I am new here. It is going to take time. It’s like a completely different world out here. What about you? Seeing anyone new?”

He: “Nah! No one is pretty as you are…” He grinned.

She: “Okay mister smarty-pants. I get your point!” She chuckled.

He: “They say love has its own language, and it’s rather sweet.”

She: “Nice to know!” She winked. He unlocked his phone and put a song on speaker.

Young

We were so young when we thought that we knew how to love

Fought about anything, everything led to dysfunction

But we just gotta own that shit

Don’t let it go like this

Maybe we can go from this, yeah….

She: “Oh! You remembered. And here I was thinking you forgot.” She looked away for a moment and ran fingers through her gorgeous hair. She usually did that when she felt shy.

He: “I can never forget about it. Happy birthday love!”

She: “Thank you. Thank you, Andrew, for everything!” She was blushing like a twelve-year-old.

He: “You are welcome dear.”

We both know I go too far like when I wrecked your car

And almost fought your father when he pushed me in the yard

And all those nights we snuck out, like to meet up at the bar

Don’t worry, my love, we’re learning to love

But it’s hard when you’re young

Yeah, it’s hard when you’re young…

 She: Hey, it’s new year already. Happy new year…” She put a hand on the screen.

He: “Happy new year…” He put his hand on the screen. Tears left his eyes.

She: “Andrew, no matter where you are, I will be always there to remind you…”

He looked at his phone’s wallpaper. It was a picture of Aurora and him on the beach. She had a blue scarf around her neck which he had gifted on her birthday. But, he didn’t know she was going to leave him soon after that day. The day was 31^st December, 2015.

Caught, we were caught up in the high, it was better than drugs

Too high to see that it would all lead to destruction

At least we both know that shit

We just gotta own that shit

I hope that we can go from this, yeah…

She giggled whenever he kissed her head which was once full of silky jet-black hair. It made him laugh too. He always tried his best to never to show his tears in front of her. But when she asked him to move on, he broke down. The hospital equipment couldn’t drown his bellow. But even then, he vowed to love her forever. All they had endured together only made him stronger.

Soon after, she passed away in his arms.

We both know I go too far like when I wrecked your car

And almost fought your father when he pushed me in the yard

And all those nights we snuck out, like to meet up at the bar

Don’t worry, my love, we’re learning to love

But it’s hard when you’re young

Yeah, it’s hard when you’re young

Yeah, yeah, it’s hard when you’re young….

He: Log 2017.0001, Aurora.AI program version 6.1 system test successful. Condition stable. Signing out.

 

*Dedicated to my first job (sweet IT life!) and The Chainsmokers (Thanks for the songs!)

Lord’s Cafe Part II

Please keep following, part 2 will be shortly released…

Lord’s Café Part 1

“No, no, no…this cannot be happening right now.” He gasped for breath as people around him looked with bewildered eyes. “No signal” He looked at his phone and then at the metal door which stood closed before him.

“Sir you need to calm down and leave this place immediately.” A security personnel blocked his way as more approached from all directions. “Alright, alright… I am leaving, sheesh!” He glared at the guy and turned around to leave.”

He kicked a trash can and hurt his toe in the process. “Fu…” He collapsed on a seat near him and he kept staring at the floor with misty eyes. “Not fair!” He thought as a tear rolled down his face.

“Are you okay?” Someone placed a hand on his shoulder. He wiped his face and replied, “I am fine, thanks!” He forced a smile as he turned his head. A large cup of coffee had presented its way towards him. ‘Lord’s Café’ the words glistened on the white cup. “On the house!” The feminine voice was soothing and he took the cup with a thanks.

She was much older than him but the serenity of her face reminded him of his mother. She took her Lord’s cap and apron off and took the seat beside him. The lights of the small airport shop behind them dimmed slowly as he took a sip. “Did you get anything to eat all day?” She asked him while tying her graying hair with a colorful band. “No…” His words were as hollow as he felt inside that moment.

“I have worked here for a long time and have seen a lot of things and I know when someone in in pain. Tell me…” She looked at him intently as another tear found it’s way down his face.

“I really lost her this time!” His lips quivered as he looked at her.

“I want to see her one last time” He took out his phone and peered at the wallpaper which reminded him of a great moment which now had become an old memory.

“If you were given an opportunity to get back to the time when it all started or the last time you two were together, which one would you choose?” She looked into his eyes and smiled.

“I don’t know…” He took a sip and looked away not knowing what to reply.

“Come on, you might just get what you want!” He found a re-assuring hand on his shoulder.

“The time we first met. It was never meant to be to begin with. I would have an option to decide once again.” He suddenly remembered the argument that happened the day before.

“Take a sip Ross!” She smiled at him as he put his lips to the cup.

“Wait! How do you know my na…”

The light around him got brighter and he found himself sitting in a college classroom. Instead of a cup he had a notebook in his hand.

“Thanks Ross, I will return this soon I promise. You are a life-saver!” A girl took the notebook from his hand. “Jo…Joel?” He fumbled as he tried to grasp what was happening around him. “Yes?” She looked at him with her deep brown eyes. She was wearing the pink top which was his favorite.

“Would you like to go out with me…for dinner maybe?” He could hear his heartbeat by then. “Sure! Call me…” He always liked her smiling face more than the on-going lecture.

He pinched himself as the bell rang and everyone got up to leave. He suddenly remembered, it was exactly the same day when he proposed to her and she had said yes…

–To be Continued–

The night when everything changed…

“Remember that night when we went out for the first time?” I asked her as she held my hand. “Of course I do, you called me mom in your sleep.” She grinned as it slowly came back to me.

We raised our glasses in the air as the bartender brought us a new tray of sparkling shot glasses. I sipped my cocktail silently. I kept reminding myself that I had to reach home without getting a single scratch on the car.

I turned around to order some more starters and in the process caught a glimpse of a pretty girl sipping the same cocktail as I. “No harm in trying!” One of my friends said. Others coxed me and soon I was on my way to her table as she fiddled with her phone. “Excuse me!” I was about to introduce myself when she stopped me and said, “Not gonna happen!” I was startled and was pretty sure that my face had turned red out of embarrassment. “Sorry for disturbing you…!” I murmured and turned around when she said,” I am sorry about that, I am not in a good mood right now.” Her pink nail polish complimented her lips or maybe vice-versa but she was gorgeous. I smiled and left.

My friends patted my shoulder as I finished my cocktail and ordered a large peg of whiskey. The car could go to hell for all I cared.

As we paid our bills, ready to leave, I saw her walking upto me with a godly smile. “Hey, I guess we started on the wrong foot. I am Priya. Priya Mukherjee!” I could see her table, populated with slender cocktail glasses, over her shoulder. “Aniruddh Sen.” I extended my hand towards her which she gladly accepted.
“Wanna get out of here? Let’s go someplace fun.” She winked at me. I felt confused and excited at the same time. We silently left the place and my friends waved at us.

“So what do you do?” I asked the strange but beautiful lady beside me. “I quit my job today.” She turned towards me with an expressionless face. “Oh, I am sorr…” I felt weird as she stopped me before I could complete my sentence. “And you?” She had pretty earrings. I pointed at a building. “Okay!” She turned on the radio and hummed along with the song. We stopped near a night club.

We entered the dark place with deafening music as people danced in euphoria all around us. To blend in, she ordered tequila shots for both of us. She finished her shots before me as I quietly handed out shots to people around me taking advantage of the darkness. People cheered. Someone in a black tshirt with phosphorescent “Om” printed on it blessed me. I made my way through the crowd and finally found Priya dancing like a pro. The tequila must have unleashed the dancer inside her I thought. Before I could do anything, she pulled me towards her and then the lights went out. And then Bam! The Dj dropped the beat, literally. Peopled cheered as if God had shown up before them in all his glory. Priya and I danced amidst a crowd of zombies but it felt different. Liberating, my brain fetched a word, which meant that I was still sober. Even in that darkness, I could see her scintillating brown eyes fixed on mine. Her lips quivered as I held her and she smiled seductively.

Half an hour later, drained of all our energy, we decided to leave the club. She gave the finger to a tall building as we drove into the night. I laughed as she leaned out of the window, the wind caressing her face.

“You okay?” I asked her as tears rolled down her face. She wiped her face like a child and said, “Yes!”

My instinct was sharp as ever. “Tell me everything.” She looked at me and then at the road as we drove towards her home. “He was a jerk and we broke two months ago. I should have never said yes to him.” She took her phone out and threw it out of the window. And then she broke into laughter.

“Oh my God! As I slammed the brakes as she kept laughing. “Don’t stop, he gave it to me, and I don’t want it anymore. We drove on but I rolled up all the glasses.

“Tell me a story” She looked at me with a grin. I changed the gear and looked at her. “Why don’t you tell me a story?” She was playing with her earring. “I will, but you tell me one first!” She said in a fake angry voice. She tugged my sleeve and looked at me with pouted lips. “Alright! But give me a second. And don’t do that or I will drive us off the flyover.” I slowed down. “If you don’t start now, I will do more than that.” I could sense hostility in her child-like voice. “Once there was a …” She asked me to stop with her hand. “I … don’t… feel… very… well…” Her face now had a maroon hue. I stopped the car and she dashed out of the car and garnished a bush with puke. I rushed towards her with a bottle of water. “Arghhhh…” She grunted like a pirate and wiped her face with her sleeve. She came near me with pointed a finger at her open mouth. I poured some water and she gurgled and spat on the unfortunate bush. Then she wrapped herself around me and started crying again. “I f’ked up. I f’ked up bad!” She kept crying as her tears left tiny marks on my shirt. “It’s going to be okay! Trust me.” I was at loss of words. My brain was giving up as well.

We reached her place after sometime. She didn’t speak during that entire duration. She looked out of the window as Luke Bryan soothed us. Her apartment was on the second floor and she swayed like a leaf as she walked. “Tuck me into bed before you leave.” I held her as we walked. She dropped her keys on the floor and kept staring at it before I retrieved it for her and opened the door. As expected, her place was neat and clean, unlike my bachelor pad. She crawled into her bed throwing her sandals in different direction as I put a blanket on her. “Please don’t leave me.” She held my hand as she placed her soft face on it. “Please don’t go!” I smiled as she slowly slipped into slumber. I pushed away a wild lock of hair off her face and settled on the floor beside her bed. I didn’t have the heart to leave her, so I leaned on the wall and kept looking at her as she mumbled random words in her sleep. I lost count of the times I pulled her cheek, poked her nose and stopped myself from kissing her before I felt asleep.

I woke and found a pair of brown eyes staring at me. My phone was vibrating and suddenly I felt a kick in my groin as I remembered I had an assignment to submit before noon. “You called me mom in your sleep!” She smiled as she put a brush into her mouth. “You should have woken me earlier. I have to leave!” I got up and prepared to leave. “Have something to eat first. You must be hungry.” She wiped her face with a pink towel and her face shone like sun. “Later. Bye for now!” I opened the door. She pushed the door back at its resting placed and slid between me and the door. Her face was inches away from mine and her breath was minty. “Kiss me!” She said as I smiled declining her offer. “Let’s meet up later, shall we?” I inched away from her but she seemed adamant. “One kiss and you can go!” She put her hands around me and closed her eyes. I kissed her on the forehead and opened the door. She wasn’t amused but she let me go. I drove to my office. I had two hours to finish what I had promised I will.

I checked my watch as I sent the mail and locked my system. I rose from my chair to go to the washroom when we my desk phone rang up. “Hello, Mr. Sen, there is someone in the reception area asking for you. Family urgency!” The phone slipped from my hands. The image of mom and dad flashed before my eyes. My friends and I rushed to the reception area on the ground floor.

Instead of any relatives, I find Priya going through a company magazine sipping complimentary coffee.

“What are you doing here?” I felt relieved and angry at the same time. “You have something that belongs to me.” She kept the magazine as we walked outside the building. My friends stopped near a cigarette stall. “I didn’t take anything from you.” I looked into her eyes. “Yes, you have Mr.Sen!” She pulled my collar and whispered, “My heart!” And then she kissed me. My friends clapped and cheered. A few senior employees frowned as they passed by us. “There goes my appraisal!” I though as I held her by her waist, kissing her passionately. I had more fun with her than three years of my sickening corporate life and for once, I stopped caring completely about how life would turn out to be.

“Let’s stick with the story that we met in a restaurant, okay?” I asked her as we smiled at some people standing near us. “Yeah, you do that but I am not going to lie to our children.” I smiled as we folded our hands as a few more people approached us with big gift boxes. We smiled at the photographer along with some people as she slapped my hand away as I tried to pinch her through her beautiful dress. She looked at me with threatening eyes and then gently placed my hand on her waist. We smiled in unison as people looked at us adoringly.

With clicks and flashes, our lives got strung together, one year after that very night.

Dedicated to a friend who is getting married soon… !!!  😀

An Excerpt from a Love Story…

She checked the wall clock as she garnished the almost ready chicken.

10.30 A.M, 25/04/2014

A flood of memories washed over her as she remembered the first time she had cooked for him in their new home. He had become a fan of her culinary skills from that very day. He used to help her out with the cooking whenever he could and they would sometimes end up making out in the kitchen.

She neatly laid down the plates on the dining table and checked the clock again. She had another hour before she could see him again.

It was almost a year, when she had last hugged him. He was away on a business trip but he called her every single day no matter what. She would try to hold back her tears but then she failed every time she heard his voice over the line.

She took a quick shower. As she dried her hair near the dressing table, her eyes caught a glimpse of a framed photograph on the bed side table. Her mind drifted away.

10.30 A.M, 25/04/2009

She looked at the unfinished posters and decorations as he played a game on his laptop. She came near him and pressed the power button. He shot an angry look at her but then calmed down. She looked angrier than him but she had a reason to be so. “We need to finish it by afternoon. What the hell are you doing? I am working my ass off here, while others are busy getting drunk and you are playing games like a child!” She yelled as she put the hardened paint brushes in a water container. “God knows why you were selected for this committee, when all you do is screw up things!” She gave him a stern look and then looked away. “Go away and leave me alone. I will finish it myself!” He got up and went near as she arranged the paint tubes and boxes. He whispered something into her ear which enraged her even more. She left the room without saying anything.

He smiled and he knew it was time to do what he did best. Improvise!

10.30 P.M, 25/04/2009

The farewell party was a huge success. The faculty had praised the cultural team, especially the cultural lead, for the outstanding work. She stood near the dj table, completely clueless, about everything.

“So, did you like it?” He asked her with a grin on his face. “I Love it! But, how and why?” She was smiling now. “Just like I said before, I joined the committee just for you.” He winked as he led her to the dance floor. The seniors, who were completely drunk, were dancing like maniacs. While, the music grew louder and the crowd grew fiercer, they slow danced in the center in a completely different world. She smiled as he twirled her. “How did you do all this…” He cut her in the middle of her sentence and kissed her neck. She blushed in his arms, as the lights grew dimmer. “I love you!” She closed her eyes as he inched closer to her and pressed his lips against hers. Time stopped around them as they embraced each other.

Startled by a familiar feeling, she opened her eyes only to find him holding her just like that night. He opened his eyes and their lips parted.

“Still hiding the spare key in my shoes!” He exclaimed, as they laughed in unison. She didn’t hear him enter the room, but now hugged him tightly with tears in her eyes. They still looked the same, the guy who loved playing video games and the girl who loved solving math problems and sketching, just like the people from the bed side table photograph.           

One Day…

She was putting on her earrings when he entered the room. The lights above the mirrors illumined her flawless face. Her pink top and black leggings complimented her body in more than one way.

He looked at her and then at the open book in front of her. She glanced at it while running her fingers down her hair while she muttered words to herself. She looked distracted.

“Go home, Sunaina.” He put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at his reflection and smiled. “It’s Cherry!” She said sheepishly and looked away, now putting on a pink eye shade.

“For me, it will always be Sunaina.” No one knew her real name save him at that place. He settled on the chair beside her. Her smile had faded by then.

“Susie will take your shift…” She glared at him and he stopped midway. There was a reason he admired her more than the other girls. She was adamant like a seven year old.

“So, how is she?” She asked him as she pressed a small tissue paper between her lips. The red color made her look more desirable than she already was.

“She is fine now.” He replied back as she unlocked her phone to check her inbox. She sighed as she opened a new text from an old geezer, who had fallen for her. Most of the texts were filthy one liners, which described his plans for her, if she offered herself to him.

“Five minutes!” Someone knocked on the door and left. Both of them turned their heads towards the door and then they looked at each other. She got up from her chair and asked, “How do I look?”

“I don’t have words to describe as usual.” They laughed in unison.

“I wish…” He got up and stood in front of her, now inches apart. “What?” She looked tiny in front of him. He had a well-built physique and sharp features. “That you didn’t have to do this tonight!” he lied. He wanted to take her away from that God forsaken place and give her all the happiness that she really deserved. But he couldn’t. He was just a college student like her. His part time job as a bouncer barely helped him with the fees.

“Oh, you are too sweet!” She gave him a peck on his cheek and pushed a roll of cash into his hand. His eyes welled up with helpless and gratitude. “Take me to your place when she is fine. Your mother had promised me that she would teach me the recipe for the cheesecakes!”

She winked at him as she opened the door and the loud music found its way inside the small makeup room. Whistles, curses and cheering could be heard as she sighed and left him.

“One day!” He thought. One day, he would make it up to her…  

What Happened Just the Other Day… #1

I sprinted out of my home in hopes of securing a seat in the air-conditioned Volvo. By the time I reached the bus-stop, the bus was almost filled with the regular office and college goers. I took the seat next to the one near the window of the second last row of the bus. The uncle beside me was fast asleep. I put on my earphones and the bus started moving with some odd sixty-seventy passengers.

I opened the news app and started reading the daily updates.

Samsung, HTC, Sony launched their flagship…

Swipe, swipe, swipe…

Search for MH370 conti…

(Grip hardening around the phone and with a disgusted look) Swipe, swipe, swipe…

Kejriwal…

Swipe, swipe, swipe…

Modi…

What is that heavenly aroma? I lifted my face a few centimeters before I could fathom the source. 

Her hair was still moist and it glistened as sunlight found its way through the cracks and crevices in the agitated standing crowd. I tried hard not to sneeze as her hair kept brushing across my face. I had to look cool no matter what! 

The tag hanging by her neck kept swaying in thin air as she held the handle over my seat’s backrest with one hand and toyed with her silver iPhone with the other. She was from a different company.

As her deep brown eyes moved swiftly, she occasionally crinkled her nose a bit and her dimples on her rosy cheeks would become more prominent. Like a ritual, she pushed some stray locks with her thumb with the phone holding hand and looked outside the window for a second before she lost herself over the phone again. She wore a stylish bracelet and she adjusted it frequently as it glided down her hand.   

As I looked at her (probably open-mouthed) totally transfixed on her beautiful face, I saw an old lady standing near her turn around and staring at me with a disgusted look on her face.   

I immediately shifted my gaze towards my wrist watch so that I could pretend I wasn’t exactly checking her out. The next time I looked up (a couple of minutes later) the old lady was not at her place. She must have probably gotten down at some stop.

For a moment I thought she was a relative of that hottie.

After a closer look, I realised that she was playing threes on her phone. Occasionally, she rocked her head repeatedly but gently and her glossy pink lips moved along with the lyrics of the song she was listening to.

The bus halted suddenly and she almost tore my shirt into two as she balanced herself. She looked at me with a sorry look on her face. Before she could say anything, I blurted out, “It’s okay!”

To be honest it was not okay! It was a costly and a new shirt.   

She smiled as she let go off my shirt. Darn! She had a beautiful smile.

I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with a colleague of mine (will mention about it in the next story for sure!).  

I tried hard to open my mouth and say something but nothing happened. I felt stupid but helpless at the same time. I had to do something and I was not going to back out. I had to start a conversation with her.

“Hey…” No sooner the word left my mouth, the conductor cried out the name of my stop. She looked at me as she removed an earphone, with a look so sweet that could wake me up from death, but alas! I got up from my seat and finished my sentence, “You can take my seat…!”

She gave me her one of those beautiful smiles to die for.

I got down along with ten other people, as each one tried to get down first. Before the bus disappeared in a cloud of dust and smoke I went for a last look. She was looking down at her phone.

As I shifted my gaze, I heard a knock on the glass window. She was waving at me. The sleepy uncle gave us a bewildered look as I waved back at her.

I didn’t see her after that day.

Maybe someday I will again! 🙂

(Condolences and Prayers for all the passengers and their families of flight MH370)

 

A Christmas Story

I checked the old thermometer hanging on the wall. I shook it. After just six days there was going to be a big New Year party and it was still twenty degrees Celsius outside. I stared at the giant white screen and the cursor blinking, awaiting my next move. The Romanian dance number just kept playing in my head even after it had stopped playing half an hour ago. I gave a stern look at my computer and looked away. I closed my eyes. I knew that the cursor was still dancing on the screen but I could think of absolutely nothing. And I hated that feeling. More than being alone in a two room apartment with absolutely no one to talk to. Ever since I had stopped seeing her, I had lost my touch. I had told her countless of times that she was the source of my inspiration while every time, she looked lovingly at me with her deep brown eyes. The best moments we shared happened during our evening strolls. So, I decided to go out for a walk.

He came out of the tall building and looked around. He checked his wrist watch and sighed. It was already fifteen past six. He then started walking towards the bus stop. Today was the day, when he was going to propose to her. He had met her when he was undergoing his job training. After the strenuous nine hours, she was like a refreshing breeze for him. She was the most wonderful girl he had met in his life.

She adjusted her glasses and checked her cellphone. There was not a single new message in her inbox. She opened one of his texts which he had sent her last night. He had asked her to wait for him after her office got over. She smiled. She loved him a lot.  

I kept on walking aimlessly. God, I couldn’t help but hum the tune again and again. I couldn’t understand a single word of the song but the words just kept playing inside my head. I felt like taking the bus to the theatre. So, I walked towards the bus stop. I saw a girl standing there with a notepad and a cellphone in her hand. I stood by her side while thinking about the next story to write.       

“Maybe he will not come. He must be busy in a meeting or something.” She thought as she waited for him. She tore a small piece of paper from her notepad and scribbled something on it. “Excuse me; can you please give this note to anyone who comes looking for me?” “Okay…” I took the note but before I could say anything, she walked away in hurried steps.     

“Excuse me; have you seen a girl in glasses waiting for the bus?” He asked me with a grim look on his face. He got late while searching for a florist. “Yes, I think she was looking for you too. She just walked away five minutes ago.” “Damn it!” He looked dejected. “She left a note with me.” I handed him the small piece of paper. He opened it eagerly but the paper fell off his hand as soon as he finished reading it. “Are you okay?” I asked him as he stood there grinding his teeth. The flowers and small red box gave me a vague idea of what was happening. “Today was the day I…” He stopped in the middle of his sentence as he clasped the bouquet tightly in his arms. I put a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey!” Someone shouted from the other side of the street. Both of us looked in unison. It was her. He ran in her direction ignoring the traffic like a mad man. He hugged her as soon as he got to the other side. He whispered something in her ear and she waved at me. I smiled and waved back at her. I watched them walk away hand in hand.

I picked up the note that was lying on the ground. It read-

“I will always be with you no matter what…”               

I felt like going home. Something had restored the meaning of true love in my troubled head.

Merry Christmas.  

 

The Girl in Purple Jeans- Final Chapter

‘Am I dreaming?’ I asked her. She was holding me tightly as I maneuvered my bike through the rain. ‘Okay, okay stop it! I said to her as she playfully bit my ear in reply. We ran inside my house, drenched in rain. I looked at her, as she wiped her hair. She looked so irresistibly beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her even for a second. ‘Where were you all my life?’ I asked her as I pulled her towards me. ‘You really want to waste more precious moments of your life by asking that question right now?’ She smiled and put her hands around my shoulder. ‘I love you!’ My nose touched her neck and goose bumps spread like wild fire across her face and neck as I sucked a raindrop off her wet cheek. ‘I love you too!’ She united her lips with mine. After that we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. 
I don’t know how we ended up on my bedroom floor. She opened her tired eyes and looked at me with a smile as soon as I ran a finger around her face. ‘What made you change your mind?’ I asked her. ‘You!’ She replied. ‘I don’t understand!’ I looked into her eyes. ‘It just took you three days to make me fall and believe in love. And that is the reason why I decided to stay!’ She put her head on my chest and closed her eyes. I still couldn’t make head or tail of what she meant by that but I just wanted to wake up next to her every morning for the rest of my life. 
The clouds had given way to the sunlight that had finally found its way inside the house and into our lives…

The end.

Chapter 1: https://abhisheksinha99.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-girl-in-purple-jeans/

Chapter 2: https://abhisheksinha99.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/dugga-dugga/

Chapter 3: https://abhisheksinha99.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/asche-bochor-abar-hobe/

Asche Bochor Abar Hobe?

Asche Bochor Abar Hobe: [Bengali Phrase] It will happen again next year, in context with Durga Puja.

Dashami: Tenth and the last day of Durga Puja.

Kichu Bolbe: [Bengali Phrase] Do you want to ask something?

Peas-pulao: Indian recipe made with rice and peas.

 

5 minutes ago…
‘The flight for Delhi is…’ I kept dashing through the airport like a mad man. I had something in my mind. This is not the way I wanted it to be!

The night before…

‘You looked great in that maroon sari!’ I kept walking away from the crowd for a better reception. 
‘You looked handsome too in your blue Kurta…’ I was in love with her voice already. ‘So tell me when are we going to meet tomorrow? I have something to tell you!’ Suddenly my heart beat got faster. ‘Same time! Is something wrong?’ I was perspiring already. ‘Nothing is wrong dear.’ She replied calmly. ‘Okay see you tomorrow, don’t be late. Bye!’ I pocketed the phone and looked at the idol from the distance. I did a silent prayer. I went back inside the pandal and joined the wild crowd. 

The next morning…
As soon as I saw her get down from the cab, I started framing sentences in my head to compliment her. She looked gorgeous and shone brightly with the Dashami morning thanks to her yellow sari. She winked as she came near me and took a bite from the chicken roll in my hand. 
‘You look gre….’ She pulled my hand before I could finish and dragged me inside one of the mall’s lift. As the door closed behind us, she put her hands around me and kissed me passionately. As we left the lift and walked hand in hand, she looked at me and smiled. Red-faced, I smiled as well, remembering all the times we kissed for the past few days.
‘So what was the thing you wanted to tell me?’ I asked her as we ordered our lunch and sat face to face. ‘I love you!’ She said without flinching for a moment, her eyes fixed on mine. ‘And I know you love me too!’ She was right. After spending the last four days with her, I felt life spending the rest of my life with her. ‘Today I’m leaving Kolkata!’ I felt thunderstruck. The fork slipped from my hand and fell on the tiled floor as people stared at us. ‘I will be back after one year. This job is very demanding!’ She played with the peas-pulao with her spoon as she finally looked away from me. I choked like always. I couldn’t find words to say. I felt lost and helpless. Someone screamed in my head repeatedly, ‘Not again!’ 
We ate in silence. After lunch we stood for a while in one of the upper levels of the mall looking at the people walking below in colorful dresses. She leant on me, resting her head on my shoulder. I put my hand around her. She hugged me and said, ‘I am sorry!’ I kissed her forehead and tried to hold back my tears. 
‘I should leave. I have a flight to catch!’ We walked towards the exit. She stopped a cab and when she turned around to look at me, I asked loudly with a smile on my face, ‘Hey girl in purple jeans, when does your flight leave?’ ‘Eight!’ She gave me a flying kiss and waved as the cab left the place. 

Now…
‘The Flight for Delhi, did it leave?’ I asked the help desk lady, still panting for breath. ‘It’s in the runway. I am sorry sir!’ I looked away and looked at the glass walls overlooking the runway. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the very thought of losing her, maybe forever, passed my mind just like the flight, which now had disappeared in the night sky. I wiped my tears and kept staring blankly at the floor. ‘I should have stopped her, or maybe at least tried to stop her!’ I kept thinking. ‘I wish I had said something…’

Just then a bus ticket fell on my lap as someone stood in front of me. I picked it up and saw a sentence written on it…

‘Kichu bolbe?’

To be Contd…

Subho Bijoya… 🙂

PART I: https://abhisheksinha99.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-girl-in-purple-jeans/

PART II: https://abhisheksinha99.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/dugga-dugga/