The Meet

1.

There was a stillness in her stare. As if she was pouring patience out of her eyes, depicting all the experiences she had accumulated. While she was sitting alone on the chair, I found she was quite at peace with herself.

This was a complete new person. Nothing reminded me of the girl I knew years back. Although her eyes still is a pair of charming brown; and the lips parted with the same old perfection; pink and imperious.

As soon as I knew , somehow, that SHE was the one I am supposed to meet, my body began trembling. Uncertainty had crossed the limits when I found myself stammering even in my thoughts of speaking to her. This is so embarrassing, I thought to myself. This isn’t the first time that you’ve have had spoken to any woman, on the contrary, ladies are enamoured by you, now stop being such a fool and shack hands…

Whilst my inner monologue, the lady had risen from her seat and smiled looking at me. Oh, that smile, which had taken a place in my dreams ever since I’d met her . Her hands, soft and pacified as moon’s rays that beacons dreams of millions. Her hair neatly tied ; and when opened could shade all the gloom in the world . Her moving head allowed the ear rings to dangle to and fro touching the side of her neck. It felt as if I could hear each breath distinctly, following a pattern each time. An everyday dream is this moment s’ reality. No one could even begin to imagine , how longed this day of autumn was, how patient I had been for the millions of moments that had passed without any possible hope of meeting again.

Now, however, here she was, in front of me just like my answered prayer waiting to be cherished.

My Ina.

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2.

‘..So, how have you been?’

‘Good.., Quite good actually’, I have rehearsed this part ,so for the time being I know what to say. ‘I am a microbiologist now. You know, in the Oswald Beverages, here in Bangalore…. What about you? Long time no see.

I could not hear her replays everything faded as I saw her speaking, recalling the last time she had looked into my eyes and spoken this way.

Almost sixteen years ago, as soon as my visa was conformed, and I was pre destined to reach Texas and begin my new life. However I was’nt ready for the unanticipated and shocking departure from Ina for so much time.

We left each others arms with the one date in mind 16th of July, where one had to wait for the other each year.

Sixteen years it took for us to meet again and when she had already finished speaking that I came back from the memories that seemed like of yesterday.

After ordering for something, her phone rang.

‘…Hello?...... okay, thank you so much…

..…No I don’t think that would be necessary, that’s all. Thank you again!’

I was busy thinking how to strike a proper conversation, when she suddenly kept her phone and said, ‘ Hmm, tell me now. How’s your wife, children?’

I was’nt amazed . I’ve had a lot of affairs, to know different kinds of women all my life of 38 years, and different techniques of each of them to know my relation status. So, I knew my line next. Actually , this question was also amongst the various answers that were already prepared.

‘ Do I look like a family man to you? I have no interest in finding a family and making kids , without even knowing myself out and out. I am still young, dashing , and extremely attractive Ina! Why, do you forget how you told me that night we were dru…..’

I look at her and in a few second , out of embarrassment I look at the ground.

God! Why do I have no control over what I think and say? That thing was supposed to be special and “THE OPEN SECRET “ between both of you.

I look at her. She too was looking at the glass of water near her.

God, Ina look at me. Please.

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3.

‘I just said it because..’

‘Never mind Ina, you know how stupid I can be at times.’

‘ No, I don’t know. And even you don’t know me yet. Listen, I have a daughter. Ruby. I have a husband. He is everything I would want in the world as a husband. A partner by all means. I AM a family person and I have found that out.

Remember the time, when we decided we would never break promises, I learnt my bit of that lesson. My husband , even in his dreams , would not break any promise made to me. So, you see, I am in the right place. Do you know, how it feels to be happy from the heart? Well I know, and I can’t explain.’

RUBY!

I dream of a girl every night, in my arms , looking at me smiling, as if asking me, ”Are YOU my dad?” A twinkle in my eye, and her babble throughout is what I have seen all these years.

‘ Ina , please! I know I did not do as I said I would, but does that one mistake determine everything? Each day I wished that if I could manage to come on that day, maybe we would have been together, you know. I do not ask for forgiveness, but just a second chance. Ina, every moment in my life after that day, is a prove that I did a mistake. Grievous mistake.

Ina , please! ‘

‘ Are you out of your mind? I cannot even think of leaving my family. You don’t have one. Of course , you will not understand. A without them seems void.’

Then there was the longest pause known. Maybe years, I fancied. As if all that she said made my time fast . I felt we had become old sitting on the bench of the coffee shop. As if, somehow she had forgotten her family, and had already spent her life with me on the bench.

‘Do you remember us? All that we made out of time?’

Ina smiled and said,’ Memories!’

‘Just memories?’

‘No, we made US. The us we can never get back. All that is left to the past, has made all that we are today. There would come a day when everything would be negligible, but only us would be the priceless thing we would be left with. You know, two roads parallel do not meet, but they promise to move by their partner throughout . Both of us have the similar destination, just different routes.

‘ Ina, I always wished, I was your husband. Then why is it that you come to meet me still?

‘I meet you each year. Actually, I meet a new you each year. And I like meeting to new people.’

‘Does that mean I am changed?’

‘Changed and harmless, totally.’ And she laughed. ‘I gotta go now. I have a work in mind. So yeah, bye!’

‘ Bye.’

Harmless, did she say?

So I was harmful earlier?

What is it that I did not understand?

I have heard all this each time she comes to me. The exact same things. Yet whenever, she says harmless, I have no clue.

She is such a mystery!

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4.

*Meanwhile in the coffee shop*

Waiter 1: (Laughing) Whom does he keep talking to?

Waiter 2: He is the actual manager of the shop. Years ago he was actually a biologist, very reputed. It was then that he bought the shop. However , later he was diagnosed with a serious mental disorder. Schitso..schitzonic.. something. I don’t really know.

This is his brother’s shop now.

He sits in this bench for most of his day, he imagines that he is a working man still and talks to himself.

(Then quietly holding the other waiter’s hand and almost whispering)

People say that, that man murdered a girl who he met after years, refused to marry him. Moreover , the body was never found hence never proven. I think they might have the body under the shop, buried.

Now listen carefully, Table No. 5 is waiting for a Caffe Latte. Don’t be late just because of silly stories….

Come on , get going!!