Our First Meeting - A short story

Today's post is another short story from the very talent writer Maya Khandelwal whose last love story 'The Gap' you all loved. Maya, thanks for being a part of Womanatics. On to Maya now. 

Hi Friends,

Here I go with one of the chapters from my first novel which happens to be autobiographic in essence. My first meeting with my 'dashing, smashing, out of the world' phone friend gets described here.

                       

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A certain feeling of indolence was sweeping over me.

I craved to talk to Aditya or meet him just once.

‘There is nothing wrong in meeting just once.’ My lighter side seemed to speak softly in my ears.

Was I to assume it was love? Oh! The question hounded me day and night.

I headed towards the phone a number of times but couldn’t make up my mind. The very thought of not being able to talk to him was quite nerve-racking.

‘How was it that I’d grown so fond of his voice and I couldn’t just get away? Was I not going overboard to have a word of warmth from him?’ I asked myself.

I was sick of questions but the answers wouldn’t be there.

‘The call Di had just attended, must be his’. The thought flattered me.

The next morning, the phone rang unexpectedly and I picked it up in urgency as if electrified by the sound.

Luckily there was no one at home.

‘Mansi, what is this? Do I have to remind you of the promise you gave? I have been dying to see you; to have a word with you!’ he pleaded.

‘See; I have an idea if that may suit you. Tomorrow I’m required to go to the college probably for the last time. Can I see you on the way?’ I asked, not sure if he would really agree to have a glimpse of mine that way. I knew it would be very awkward even if he did. I was not so stunning a girl that someone should be standing on the road just to see me.

‘Gosh! You and your childish ideas! Am I supposed to be a Road Romeo? See, this is very irksome! Let’s holdup our meeting until you feel more convinced about me. May I put down the phone and pick up where I left off?’ Aditya asked, highly upset.

‘Please listen to me though you wouldn’t believe, I’m sure. Even I’m getting impatient to see you! What am I to do however? My parents would create hullabaloo if I was detected to be sitting with a guy in any café or any other public place.’ I tried hard to explain.

‘God knows why am I giving in? I am feeling more or less been trapped; aren’t I... TRAPPED?’ he asked with put on annoyance.

‘Don’t actually know what to say? I feel... I am ensnared too!’ I admitted candidly.

‘FINE! Let me know how am I to recognize you?’

‘Hmmmm.. Let me think for a while. I’d be wearing white chooridar with a multi coloured dupatta. Does that suffice as a clue?’

‘Perfect then.’ he conceded.

I could inhale excitement in the air.

When the dreamy feel dipped for a while and the thoughtful cap was on, I realized the blunder I had committed.

Would I be able to distinguish him? Damn! I hadn’t thought of that!

‘Let’s see. It was a twist of fate, a very rare one that we had got connected through… a random phone call!’

As the knot of intimacy grew thicker, I sensed the charisma of some greater divine plan underlying the web of happenstances.

I must not feel guilty. I should rather surrender to providence whichever way it led.

I had an early dinner. As I was clearing the dishes and all, I wasn’t able to focus. I was thoroughly overtaken by the sweep of emotions. I just couldn’t get my mind off him! Felt like rubbing my cheeks delicately with the spongy scrub dabbed in soap!

Must be love.

I woke up early and prepared tea for all. Mom as well as Sis was surprised to note the change. All knew except me that I had always been a late riser.

I wore the white suit in line with our secret plan. I had no specialized hand for make-up. I had never even applied lipstick except for those certain occasions when I used to be a school going girl and would partake in cultural programs. Our faces were highlighted by the teachers so much that even our parents failed to identify us from the distance. We all looked the same as though we belonged to the troop of monkeys under the leadership of Hanuman, the Monkey God.

I however put on little black bindi to adorn my broad forehead. I…well; I looked soberly sweet.

I took my Scooty out and rode on the path of love never traversed before.

It was an overcast morning. My heart flickered in hitherto unidentified bliss. I wished it would rain! 

I loved rains.

Whenever it did, I found it very difficult to rein my spirits.

The road was peopled with giant trees. I could feel the puff of air blowing over my cheeks. I realized not that it was a roundabout ahead and that I was supposed to take a turn. I narrowly escaped an accident!

A man standing by a tea stall gave me concerned glance. There were a few more sitting on a bench. I asked myself if one among them might be my dream boy. The one who looked concerned… was a tall man nearly in his thirties.

That couldn’t be him of course; that shouldn’t be him.

As I reached the college, I saw a big mass of youth hanging around pressing books of various sizes under their arms. The professors nodded in response to their greetings. A few girls extended sweet smiles towards me and I responded with the same warmth.

As I neared the parking there was a guy who I felt had been stealing glances at me.

I looked at him hesitantly.

He kept surveying me through the corner of his eyes.

Gosh! He had semi green eyes too!

My heart missed a beat or two.

I wished this guy to be the one my eyes hunted.

Was I lucky enough?

I had no reason however to believe so for Aditya was to be on the way not there at the entrance of the college.

In any case, I couldn’t wait to know.

‘Love!’ My mind faithfully cautioned as the guard instructed by my heart not to let the thing enter.

Who would listen though?

…

…

My mother assailed me with questions as usual.

Satisfying her queries was the crucial job. I did it to her contentment.

I had my lunch in silence and hoped that Mom retired into the afternoon siesta.

Behind the veil of quiet there lay great hubbub in my mind.

At the earliest favourable moment I dialled his number.

‘How’re you?’ he asked hiding the customary giggle of his which I unloved the most when it was practiced against me.

‘I am not supposed to be fine; am I?’ I felt like shouting in exasperation but I couldn’t for the evident reason that Mom slept in the neighbouring room.

‘Why the hell didn’t you come? You were getting so much impatient to see me, no?’ I mimicked like a child.

‘Well… it’s like this.’ he cleared his throat for more dramatic effect.

‘Let me explain…you see I couldn’t actually get the time. I stand rebuked.’ a fall in the tone.

‘Anyway, tell me how did the day go?’ a rise again.

‘It was sort of…okay. You actually fooled me; didn’t you?’

‘I didn’t actually mean to. Well, do let me know if there happened anything noteworthy?’ he asked amused by my gloomy tone.

‘Oh yes! I absolutely forgot to tell you! As I was about to park my Scooty, I saw a guy who ogled me in such a way as though…’ I left the sentence unfinished.

The ball was in my court currently.

‘As though….?’

‘As though he was trying to identify me. What else? Know what? He had those green eyes! Oh my God! I liked the fellow indeed and wondered if it was you! ’ I lay my mind bare to him.

‘Did you… really… like him? That means my chance gone for someone you fell in love with at first sight?’ he couldn’t hold back his mirth any longer.

‘What makes you laugh, anyway?’ I felt provoked.

‘Thank God! You liked me.’ he exclaimed.

‘Wait a minute!!! What do you actually mean by all this nonsense? You just expressed regret for not being there if I’m not wrong?’ I was befuddled but amused as well.

‘Do you only have the special right to pull everybody's leg and get the poor souls entangled in trying situations?’ he asked.

‘You mean you actually saw me?’ I asked, at a loss.

‘Of course yes! I did! You’ve got damn superbly long hair! Well, my life is well set!’ Aditya paused for a gulp of air.

‘See, I can’t stand all this trash. I tell you! Wipe out the smog or I disconnect.’ My lips ached due to the extra extensive smile they were festooned with.

‘It was me you silly girl whom you glared to the fill of your heart!’ he declared leaving me dumb with happiness.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

It took me a couple of hours to recapture the equanimity of my mind.

Ah! The lovely labyrinth of dreams!

I was badly trapped! An unyielding grip indeed! I felt the willowy manacles of love invisibly all-encompassing. What a feeling! I felt as if my heart had wrenched itself apart and was bent upon moving in the opposite direction to the one laid out by my family discipline.

Was this real?

Or I was leafing through some feverish love tale by Mills n Boons??

Could I withdraw now with no brushes on my soul?

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P.S. Maya, I would like to send you a small token as thanks for contributing this story to Womanatics. Please send your complete postal address. 

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