8. CROSSING THE ROAD

August 2015.

Morning in Bangalore was amazing for me. From chirping of birds to rushing of Techies to their offices, Bangalore was an active city. I settled in a mess, having three room-mates to welcome me. After having my breakfast, I completed a conference call with my seniors of Kolkata. It took almost an hour, then Riya called to pick me up. We went together to conduct our first meeting in a mall.

It was a brand-new shopping mall, fully decorated, flawless finish, and crowded with high-class people all around. Every little thing snatched my attention. The first insight of a big mall broadened my eyes and dazzled me completely. Visiting a mall was a dream for me. Despite being in Kolkata, I visited no mall. Nisha couldn’t hang out with friends, because of her strict family rules. So, I had decided, I will visit a mall only with her else I won’t. But unfortunately, it didn’t happen. 

 My head went around and round trying to capture the entire mall in my eyes at once. I surprised Riya with my reaction. She became friendly, when she got to know I have never seen such a big mall. So, she informed me about it. Big stalls, food items, and other special things to look at. She guided me well.

Being in a new place, I behaved well with a strange girl but the glamour made me crazy. Astonished with a glamourous sight of such a big city, I adjusted myself well. We sat in a food court and conduct all our business meetings. Entire day we met our business partners and discussed work. I impressed Riya with my presentation skills, which made my presence worthy. My work inspired her a lot.

While feeling hungry, I suggested going for lunch and my eyebrows went down when she took me to CCD for feeding my super hungry stomach. Her stupidity frustrated me, yet I didn’t utter a single word. It shocked me, how a girl can prefer coffee as lunch. I tasted a chilled chocolate coffee first time in my life.

It’s so tough to tell my life remained such unfair for me. Nisha and I always dreamt of going to a shopping mall, having lunch in those fancy stalls, clicking selfies, and posting on Facebook. All our dreams were in front of my eyes. I was living my dream life but my heart was missing Nisha. I badly wanted her to be with me. I never imagined being in a mall with a girl except Nisha. But it was my fate, and I swallowed it silently.

 Found me lost in thoughts for a long time, Riya asked “Whom are you missing Mr.?”

Jumping back to life, I noticed she had completed half of her coffee and I had taken only a sip. I gave a casual reply to her. I wanted to scold her for being in place of my Nisha and for offering a coffee in lunch. After completing all our meetings, we got back home without wasting a single second. 

I noticed her face while going down by escalator. She was blushing. I guess, she was lost in thoughts of spending her entire day with me. Her mind repeated everything we did since morning. She was nodding with no music. She was jumping in her mind. She jumped from the escalator before she reached the floor and walked as fast as she could. She was about to attend a birthday party of her neighbor. 

We were waiting to cross the road, which was taking too long when I found someone held my hand and dragged me towards other side of the road.

At first, my heart came to my mouth, I wondered, how could she cross a road with so risk. Her weird action baffled me. How could she touch me? How could she do it even without asking?

 The road was busy, and we got stuck on the divider. There was a long queue of vehicles moving faster than a leopard. For me, it was so dangerous to cross in such a careless way, and it was more dangerous that she held my hand. Never in my entire life. A girl grabbed my hand in a way she did, except Nisha. It was not a casual thing. She grabbed next to a couple in a movie do while walking on a red carpet. 

 I don’t know whether it was common in Bangalore or she wanted to make me feel differently. I don’t even know whether I was overthinking, or it was ok to think. Her long and straight hair fluttered all around, her locks covered almost half of her face. A few seconds, standing on a divider, divided my heart into pieces. She was busy staring at vehicles and I was busy staring at her. 

She dragged me again to the other end and once we reached, she giggled “We cross the road here like this only.” and we laughed. Though we crossed, the sight of the divider stuck my mind. I didn’t enjoy it but something different happened within me, which I can’t express in words. 

Something good, something bad.

Something happy, something sad.

 At night, she called me around 9.30 pm to come and taste the cake, which she kept aside for me. We were only a few buildings away. My mouth filled with water when I got her invitation. I don’t know what made me excited, whether it was a cake or Riya.

It was delicious, but she in her nightdress, was more delicious than a chocolate-flavored cake. We were standing outside of her mess. Male was strictly not allowed to be seen near her building. So, we were standing on a dark side. My heartbeats were pumping faster and a long smile stretched across my face. I was licking my fingers like a child and kept exchanging words. More than words, we exchanged our smile, and it pleased us a lot. She staring at how I was licking each finger as I had never eaten a cake. I stared at her eyes, how beautifully she rolled her eyes and shared everything about the birthday party. 

How she brought and how she lied to her friends about me. We had a quick conversation regarding our next day’s planning too. 

 I went back with a sweet good night wish and thanked her for a delicious cake. I jumped on my bed and smiled for no reason. Those three roommates were middle-aged, having much experience of life, noticed my happiness. They got to know something good happened to me, related to a girl. It’s a men’s thing. They gave a smile back as we had a language barrier. They were from Kerala (A state in India) and couldn’t understand other languages except their native ones.

First time being in a relationship for six years, I missed someone else apart from Nisha. I wished my darling a goodnight as it was around 11:30 pm and she slept with my memories. I had the urge in my heart to continue our conversation with Riya in a dark moonlight. I recalled our entire day and kept smiling. I wanted to thank her for her beautiful gesture on the first day. I wanted to tell her every little thought which came across my mind. Her greeting distressed me. To calm my mind, I decided to call her. So, I unlocked my mobile, pressed the call button, and rolled my right thumb over her name. My mind engaged in a serious conversation with my heart.

“Should I call her?” mind.

“Yes! You must. She did so much for you.” heart.

“But it’s eleven-thirty at night.”

“So, what, she was with you a few minutes ago, she must be awake.”

“But she is a girl and calling her late-night might trouble her.”

“Think little and call. If she is comfortable, she will continue.”

“But I can tell her tomorrow also, I am not in a hurry.”

And I kept my mobile safe under my pillow, being afraid of what if my roommates take away my mobile?

I turned towards the door, closed my eyes, and tried my level best to sleep. 

But I was helpless. Living in vain. I couldn’t calm myself. She mesmerized me with her way of treating. I wanted to thank her for everything she did. But I finally planned to sleep and kept my eyes closed.

“Aren’t you missing?” my heart questioned after a few minutes.

“Yeeesssss! But…” mind.

“Ok! Do text her.” 

“Fine.”

My heart convinced my mind, and I took my mobile and texted her with no hesitation. 

Thank you so much.

I relaxed myself to energize for our next day’s work after I texted her. I breathed deep and found myself light weighted. I closed my eyes once again, keeping my phone under my pillow and my eyes drowsed.

 After a few minutes, a certain vibration occurred in my bed. I checked my mobile. It was Riya. She texted. She was awake. I was floating on my bed. A big smile covered my face and heart filled with passion. I opened her message with butterflies in my mind.

My pleasure. Good Night.

I didn’t know, I was so good at typing, till I typed my entire message in a jiffy.

U were looking beautiful in ur nightdress.

Even in the dark?

Especially in the dark.

Thank u : ) : )

My pleasure : ) Good Night.