She looked at him for a few moments. An unnatural stillness had descended on the room. No, not the room, just around the two of them. His heart waited for the crushing blow that was to follow. It seemed an eternity before she spoke. “Yes”, she said, “It’s from Ananya.” Now who the hell was this character. He knew he was to lose her, but to Ananya. Who is he?. “And why do I care after all that has happened?”, he thought. “This is good”, his brain told him. “You are officially replaced. Now you should be free. Let her go.”
“We got engaged last week. It was a small ceremony”. She got up to pour herself some water. It almost sounded like an apology to him. Like she had even remembered him than. Aloud he said, in what he hoped was a normal voice, “Oh that’s fine.” But he wasn’t. ” So how did he meet him ? “
“Oh, he is a colleague. His parents approached mine and things just worked out”. She had stopped pouring water. It seemed difficult to coordinate the task and the recital together. She continued to watch him.
“That’s nice. But you never mentioned him before”. It was a pointed question. More like an arrow he thought. No he actually wished. ” Yes I.., ya anyways now we are engaged. I hope you recover soon for the wedding.” She was watching him carefully now.
He smiled “I am not sure I will be able to, but wish you the very best”. The mood had changed completely. There seemed to be a slight tension now. The nurse walked in with a set of medicines. This was the very break both needed. She got up and smiled. Quick goodbyes were exchanged, but what both didn’t realize is that these goodbyes were final. They were at the parting choosing their own separate paths. She skipping along happily. He letting go finally, turning to the unexplored paths ahead………….
She was sitting in the office cafeteria waiting for a friend who was just walking in. “So how did it go”, her friend asked her. “It went fine. he appears to be recovering well.”
“That’s good. Now can I have my ring back. My in-laws have been asking me all sorts of questions. ” The girl giggled as though enjoying the memory. ”
“Sure and thanks for it”, she said removing the ring. “But why did you need it for ? “, her friend inquired.
She just smiled. Again that enigmatic smile.
Awesome Robin! Quite the short story write you are!
thanks bro , but I should say “quite the dreamer” 🙂