There were not many cars on the roads. After all, how many people traverse the roads to office on holiday. He was impatiently waiting for the light to turn green. He was getting late for the meeting. Those clients were waiting in the office. It has another 150 sec left. He looked out and scanned the other cars to pass the time. His eyes alighted on the lady in next car. He was sure it was her. Bt what was she doing in Delhi? Had she shifted with her husband to Delhi?Or is it just a trip to Delhi? Did she even remember her? Thousands questions raced in his mind.
He did not know about her but those three days were imprinted in his mind. He had gone for a conference, but due to train and airline strike he had been struck in that small town. There was nothing in the town that could interest him. A beach where the seawater was black, few shops where not even a single brand was available and a plant where he had a meeting. She was also there jailed in that town, but she never grumbled. She had shown him the meaning of abandon and freedom. She was the one who had taught him to play in that dirty water as well. Sometimes, when he lost faith in everything , her tinkling laugh filled his mind. It had been two years but still she occupied his dreams. On the days like today when he had to sacrifice all his holidays, he could hear her voice making fun of his uptight schedule. She was the one who had taught him the meaning of life.
Somewhere in those three long fun-filled days he had fallen in love. He had went for a conference and returned with the gift of hope and love in his heart. He never expressed his feelings. He never even took her number. He knew she was happily married. But still he dared to hope that somewhere she had felt that pull of their souls being together. Had she come to see him? Had she come to see the landmarks he had so vividly explained to her?
He was pulled back from his dreams by the car behind him honking continuously. He had forgotten about the light. But if he knew if he went to office, he would lose her. Inspite of him late, he decided to follow the car. He plotted what he would say to her. He was jittery and excited. He followed for some two kilometers when he understood the car was going towards the airport. She was returning back. She must be returning back to Calcutta. Suddenly, he felt deflated. What would he do if she was here with her husband? What would he do if she refused to even recognize him? What if his dreams were transposed by reality?
He was being silly. His clients were waiting for him. He turned the car back to his usual route to return to his office.
WOW, Laxmi! I loved this! A simply brilliant, emotional piece of work!!
Keep writing!! You are such a great writer!! Again, I absolutely LOVED this story!
Thanks P.S. I am glad you liked it.