It was a Wednesday. As usual, I was at work, with all the messy bills and accounts. I wasn't interested, but I was forced to smile at each and every person who crossed the counter; it was my duty. I couldn't concentrate on anything, as my mind was searching for something in vain. It was just a few months ago I started at this cafeteria. Maybe the job didn't satisfy me, but I could keep myself busy. And that was all I needed. It was a real fleeing from the memories.
Yeah, I was lost in thought, but it was only then I realized that I was looking straight at the doorway. Somebody smiled at me from there. It was a familiar face. Not simply familiar, but so familiar... The same face who smiled in the same way when she cheated on me. Her face didn't seem to have any traces of guilt, or "sorry." Instead, she was happy, smiling as always, talking to her friend with ease; unlike the boy she cheated on! I thought, "The world is strange."
She walked towards my counter and, with a smile, asked, "Remember me?" I said "no." She turned away, walked towards a table, sat there, and looked at me. She had a small box wrapped in gift paper with her. I walked towards the table, sat on the opposite chair, and then she handed the box to me. I asked, "What is this?" She didn't say a word, just smiled. I took it and kept it aside.
I called the waiter and ordered two double chocolate sundaes, without even asking her. I guess, that was not the freedom I took; but it was my blank feeling for her which didn't allow me to look at her and ask something. She asked, "How are you?" I said, "I'm good." She introduced her friend to me. I looked at her friend, who was silent till then, with a smile. She, too, smiled.
I was again thinking deeply of something which even my mind didn't know about. It was her loud laughter that awakened me this time. She was talking, talking to me. I asked, "What did you say?" She said, "I was telling her, if our relationship was still there, you would have married me by now! Isn't it?" and again laughed. I really wanted to tell her something. But words were stuck. I prayed that she leave fast, or else I might lose patience. I think that was the first time God heard my prayer! She left soon. Even then, my mind was lost in memories.
"Didn't she ever contact you after that? Manu, Manu, I am asking you!" Renuka's yelling shook me out of my thoughts. Searching for words, I replied, "Yeah, she did. I was so sure about the pain haunting her, and..."
"And you called her and asked, 'I'm still ready to accept you, past is past, it's okay that you ditched me for a pig... do you love me puppy?... Blah blah bah...' Is that what happened?" Renuka interrupted with full vigour.
"Yeah, that was what happened... and you are intelligent," I said.
She smiled and said, "Let it be, you will not change! Where is she now?"
"Married," I said.
"The same boyfriend to whom she ditched you?" Renuka was really interested in her story!
"No! Never! It happened with someone else," I said with a grin. Renuka was really confused. I'm sure she will keep asking me Why, Why, Why????. But when I diverted the topic to her favorite subject, food, she turned quiet. That was the best thing I found in Renuka. I watched her moving her eyes through the menu of the Indian Coffee House. I was so sure that she would end up her menu search with her favorite onion oothappam. The same happened. Without a doubt, she ordered. Two onion oothappams and two coffees. She didn't care to ask me; and I am glad that it is the freedom she always takes and not the guilty feeling I had on that day. The freedom of real affection was clearly written on her smiling face.
