The Tryst

They parted ways without so much  than even a goodbye and never thought much about it. It was normal for her. They frequently shifted apartments. For him too it wasn't a big deal after-all she meant nothing to him. Teenage crushes are like the wind they come and the next minute they are gone. Days, weeks, months, years passed each was to the other a faint remembrance... one that would bring a smile to their faces but that was about it. They never tried to find out the whereabouts of the other, even if they did it was as a matter of good mannerisms (or so they thought)

"She's mean and thinks too much of herself. Look at all that attitude."

This had been her case ever since childhood. Samaira was the most complex girl one could come across. The more frightened she was on the inside the bolder front she put up on the outside. To be honest she was always scared. Scared that if she gave in she would not be accepted as a woman of substance, she wouldn't be liked anymore, she'd become a loner. It was just once that she had someone defend her and it had been none other than Vishnu. 

Vishnu and Samaira were neighbours. Two totally different individuals. While he was more stable and sensible. She was outright crazy. They never expected to meet or speak to each other after they parted ways on the crossroads of life. But as fated their souls were intertwined. 

Ten years and a lot of nonsense later they crossed paths again. Things weren't the same. Samaira wasn't the same innocent girl Vishnu knew. She was different. She had fallen in and out of relationships. So much so that to the world she was just like any other small town good girl gone bad. Vishnu felt the same about her too. People had seen her external arrogance, her loud behaviour, but no one looked at the frightened child that hid behind this facade. She was in no mood to expose herself either.

So thank god for social networking, they "connected" again. 

"One new notification. Hoga koi stupid candy crush request." she complained. "Oooo what do we have here, one friend request... Vishnu... oh my god... the boy next door... it can't be him. He won't even remember me."

Click click...

And a few clicks later he was on her friend list.

"Oh my god, he's online too."

Furiously typing...

I'm sorry I'm unable to recollect but you're the same guy from across the street right? Veena's brother!?

"What kinda stupid question am I asking him!!" she spoke aloud and smacked her head. "Ooo he's typing..."

So with this things began. They were "friends". Well everyone on your Facebook account is your friend... so yeah... friends!!

Then Samaira was told that Vishnu is leaving for a foreign university. And it really didn't matter. Apart from the fact that a certain part of her heart singed with despair... but that had nothing to do with the boy.

Samaira had always aspired to leave India. Never return. Just run away to a far off place where no one knew her. Start afresh. But she always had this precious possession locked away in a heavy trunk at the bottom of the sea. Maybe this little event had a significance in both their life's... but it was too early to tell...!!

"Hey I'm in your city. My train departs in five hours. Can we meet up for coffee or something?" Vishnu's voice was soft yet husky over the phone. A voice she always imagined the heroes of her romantic novels to have. However this was something she failed to notice. She just couldn't believe he wanted to meet her.

"Maybe he doesn't know... he hasn't heard about it just yet." Samaira was not the kind to keep things from friends... but she never told them right away. Neither did she tell everyone, just those she thought were too important to let go...

"Hey it's a Sunday you know. I'm not granted permission to leave home. I'm really sorry. As much as I'd love to meet you after all these years I'll have to say some other day..." 

The conversation that followed seemed a mere formality.

So before they knew it he was miles away in college and she was finishing her first year Masters degree...! He sent her photographs of the university at which he had enrolled and the longing within her grew... but she knew her dreams would just remain dreams. She could just aspire and leave it at that...

Days changed to months and something else changed too. He was the first person to noicelessly break through her shell and bump headlong into the real her. His opinion of her changed. Naive as she was she never really noticed anything all along till he revealed it to her months later.

"Why don't you apply for a PhD here too?" She jarred at hearing him speaking her mind out loud.

She had been thinking about the same just a minute before he suggested this...

"Prying into your head it seems.." he said after she had remained silent for way too long. She heard the mischief in his voice. She giggled nervously. 

"Thief" she playfully accused.

They both laughed.

"So Magic Realism.... hmmmm... aren't we also something like the term... we're an oxymoron..." she mused "we're so different yet we make perfect sense when we're together. On my own I'm such an idiot." She giggled while speaking to her reflection in the mirror.

"Darn it I'm late for class.." she rushed through her toiletries and ran to make it in time for her bus.

          

To he continued...!!