This is depressing :P
August 27th, 2019:
She stood there, waiting. It was a dull autumn afternoon and she had been waiting for over an hour. The park was unusually quiet except for an occasional chirp of critters and there were just a few people nearby-a plump old woman walking her dog, a young couple lying on a blanket and a few kids running around. She wanted to go back to her hotel room, call room service and sip on some iced tea but she chose not to.
But she waited, armed with a pink bejeweled pen and a diary. It had become a habit of hers to carry a pen and a notebook wherever she went. She opened her diary and scribbled some lines down and closed it again. She reached inside her over-sized Prada bag for her cell-phone and tried his number once again and got directed to voice mail.
She silently observed the people around her. The kids were trying to put a caterpillar in one of their friends’ hair and were happily giggling while the old woman was mumbling about her aching bones to her dog. Meanwhile, the couple was still lying on the ground, face up towards the sky, watching clouds and probably discussing about their future. As she watched the young happy couple, she felt a cold nostalgia running through her veins and gripping her heart like a strong cold fist. They were like that once-young and happy.
Just as she was about to lose hope, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. She stood up and turned around. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw his face once again, after 2 years of separation. He came running; panting heavily and tried to explain himself but only the loud panting of his lungs came out. She handed him her Evian bottle and guided him to the park bench where she had been sitting.
“He hasn’t quit smoking,” she thought to herself. She noticed that he still looked the same except for the few lines on his face. He was still wearing a tee-shirt, jeans and Converse sneakers combo. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes when he finally started speaking.
“I’m so sorry for being late. I was having lunch with very important clients and we were closing a deal. Did you wait long?”
“We were supposed to meet at 1:30, its 3:00. You don’t have to explain yourself Dan, I’m used to it.”
He noticed the sarcasm in her voice and the flicker of a smile on her face which tried to hide her anger. She hasn’t changed one bit.
“Look Pols, I don’t know why you wanted to meet me but I don’t want to start with a fight okay? Please.”
“I know… I’m sorry. It’s just…”
Both of them remained quiet for some time when she finally managed to swallow the lump in her throat and hold back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes.
“I know you must be really busy and all but I really needed to see you.”
“Well what is it?”
“I need your help finding a place. I’m going to start working here and I didn’t know anyone else in New York so I was wondering if you could help me out.”
“Umm… I’m sure I could try and find something for you. I’ll ask around. I know a few real estate people. But why’d you want to work here, of all places?”
“It wasn’t really my first choice. You know the job I got in Vogue India as a fashion editor? I applied for a transfer to U.S. Vogue this year for the same position and got accepted, which is a great opportunity and I didn’t want to miss it. So, here I am.”
He could see the joy in her sparkling almond eyes as she went on about her work and he held back a smile. They talked for some time, just like the old times without anyone getting angry. He felt something familiar, a sense of warmth. He looked at his watch to check the time but when she noticed this particular action of his, her face fell and her voice suddenly turned cold.
“Well you must be having some appointments or something, I guess I better go. I don’t want to keep you.”
“Hey, it’s okay. I still have a few more minutes.”
“Nah, I need some rest anyways so I’d better go. Let me know if you find something.”
“Alright then, I’ll give you a call. Which hotel are you staying in by the way?”
“The Plaza for now. Conde Nast is paying for everything so I’m being a little extravagant.”
She laughed in that old familiar laugh which always made him happy as he stared dreamily at her.
And for a moment, he forgot that she was waiting for him to speak.
“I guess I’ll see you again some other time then?”
“Yeah, some other time.”
He stood there in the park, watching her walk away as her small figure slowly faded against the brownish landscape.
September 1st, 2019:
She was woken up by the constant ringing of her cell phone. She drowsily reached for it and muttered a sleepy ‘Hello’ as she picked it up.
“Guess what? A friend of mine showed me a place. I think you’re going to love it. Do you have time today?”
“Umm I guess so. I don’t have anything else to do.”
“Great. I’ll meet you at the lobby of your hotel at 12:30 sharp. I am so great.”
“Ha ha! We all know that. See you later then.”
“Ciao!”
She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling for a good 5 minutes until she finally mustered the strength to get up from the huge four poster bed. She looked at the time on her phone. 11:00 A.M. She went over to the French window and stood staring outside the city skyline. It was like she had always imagined it would be-breathtaking.
She stood there for some time, put on some new rhythm and blues tracks and went for a quick shower. She decided to wear a white racer-back tank top with a pair of grey skin-tight Victoria Beckham jeans, flat knee-length Gucci boots and an oversized black cardigan, threw on a few accessories and went extra on the kohl.
She let her hair loose and sprayed some Chanel Mademoiselle on a few strands of hair and on her skin. She still wanted to look and smell good for him. She still remembered that he loved this perfume and kohl-lined eyes. When he called to tell her that he had reached, she looked in the mirror one last time and, satisfied with what she saw, she left her room.
Dan had been waiting for 5 minutes in the lobby when he heard her voice calling him from his back. He turned around and what he saw made him freeze. She looked exactly like she did 2 years back. He was getting flashbacks from the past. He suddenly started remembering everything and he tried hard to brush it off and managed a weak smile.
“Hey, did you wait long?”
“Nope, I just reached.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her; the dark kohl-lined eyes, the messy hair and the smell of that perfume which he loved. He suddenly wondered if it was a bad idea to keep in touch with her again, meeting her again, getting so close to her again. He was already beginning to feel hot down there, like he always did when she was close by. She noticed the uneasiness in his eyes and noticed that he was fidgeting. She was just about to open her mouth to ask him if everything was alright when she realized what was happening. He could see a flicker of a triumphant smile on her face. She still hasn’t changed.
7th September 2019:
She checked the voice mail he had left for her.
“Uh… Hey, I’m sorry I won’t be able to help you move in today. You know the usual. Work. I don’t think you need my help anyways so… Let me know when you’ve settled everything. Bye.”
She felt something pounding her inside and she slumped down a little as she gave out a loud sigh. He still hasn’t changed. She sometimes wondered if it was a mistake to be in contact with him again. She remembered what had happened and she shuddered inside, stifling a soft moan. Was it a mistake to meet him again? Was it a mistake to let him in her life again after what had happened? She held back the tears that were slowly brimming in her eyes and rushed to the closet to pack her stuff.
Dan waited all day for her to call. It was 9:00 P.M. and he still hasn’t heard anything from her. He wondered if she was angry because he didn’t help her move in earlier that day. He couldn’t think of anything else the whole day and had even canceled his date with the hot new recruit for the night. Damn! Why did he let her back in his life? Why did he even open that mail in the first place? He heard the text message tone of his cell and quickly opened it.
“Hey, I’m home. Thanks for everything. I owe you. Anyways, you must be having some meeting or something so I thought a text would do. Let’s have lunch whenever you’re free. TC”
He smiled. It was good to hear from her again. He couldn’t deny it. He still missed her and he still wanted her. But he wasn’t sure if that was right or wrong.
She stood there, waiting. It was a dull autumn afternoon and she had been waiting for over an hour. The park was unusually quiet except for an occasional chirp of critters and there were just a few people nearby-a plump old woman walking her dog, a young couple lying on a blanket and a few kids running around. She wanted to go back to her hotel room, call room service and sip on some iced tea but she chose not to.
But she waited, armed with a pink bejeweled pen and a diary. It had become a habit of hers to carry a pen and a notebook wherever she went. She opened her diary and scribbled some lines down and closed it again. She reached inside her over-sized Prada bag for her cell-phone and tried his number once again and got directed to voice mail.
She silently observed the people around her. The kids were trying to put a caterpillar in one of their friends’ hair and were happily giggling while the old woman was mumbling about her aching bones to her dog. Meanwhile, the couple was still lying on the ground, face up towards the sky, watching clouds and probably discussing about their future. As she watched the young happy couple, she felt a cold nostalgia running through her veins and gripping her heart like a strong cold fist. They were like that once-young and happy.
Just as she was about to lose hope, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. She stood up and turned around. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw his face once again, after 2 years of separation. He came running; panting heavily and tried to explain himself but only the loud panting of his lungs came out. She handed him her Evian bottle and guided him to the park bench where she had been sitting.
“He hasn’t quit smoking,” she thought to herself. She noticed that he still looked the same except for the few lines on his face. He was still wearing a tee-shirt, jeans and Converse sneakers combo. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes when he finally started speaking.
“I’m so sorry for being late. I was having lunch with very important clients and we were closing a deal. Did you wait long?”
“We were supposed to meet at 1:30, its 3:00. You don’t have to explain yourself Dan, I’m used to it.”
He noticed the sarcasm in her voice and the flicker of a smile on her face which tried to hide her anger. She hasn’t changed one bit.
“Look Pols, I don’t know why you wanted to meet me but I don’t want to start with a fight okay? Please.”
“I know… I’m sorry. It’s just…”
Both of them remained quiet for some time when she finally managed to swallow the lump in her throat and hold back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes.
“I know you must be really busy and all but I really needed to see you.”
“Well what is it?”
“I need your help finding a place. I’m going to start working here and I didn’t know anyone else in New York so I was wondering if you could help me out.”
“Umm… I’m sure I could try and find something for you. I’ll ask around. I know a few real estate people. But why’d you want to work here, of all places?”
“It wasn’t really my first choice. You know the job I got in Vogue India as a fashion editor? I applied for a transfer to U.S. Vogue this year for the same position and got accepted, which is a great opportunity and I didn’t want to miss it. So, here I am.”
He could see the joy in her sparkling almond eyes as she went on about her work and he held back a smile. They talked for some time, just like the old times without anyone getting angry. He felt something familiar, a sense of warmth. He looked at his watch to check the time but when she noticed this particular action of his, her face fell and her voice suddenly turned cold.
“Well you must be having some appointments or something, I guess I better go. I don’t want to keep you.”
“Hey, it’s okay. I still have a few more minutes.”
“Nah, I need some rest anyways so I’d better go. Let me know if you find something.”
“Alright then, I’ll give you a call. Which hotel are you staying in by the way?”
“The Plaza for now. Conde Nast is paying for everything so I’m being a little extravagant.”
She laughed in that old familiar laugh which always made him happy as he stared dreamily at her.
And for a moment, he forgot that she was waiting for him to speak.
“I guess I’ll see you again some other time then?”
“Yeah, some other time.”
He stood there in the park, watching her walk away as her small figure slowly faded against the brownish landscape.
September 1st, 2019:
She was woken up by the constant ringing of her cell phone. She drowsily reached for it and muttered a sleepy ‘Hello’ as she picked it up.
“Guess what? A friend of mine showed me a place. I think you’re going to love it. Do you have time today?”
“Umm I guess so. I don’t have anything else to do.”
“Great. I’ll meet you at the lobby of your hotel at 12:30 sharp. I am so great.”
“Ha ha! We all know that. See you later then.”
“Ciao!”
She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling for a good 5 minutes until she finally mustered the strength to get up from the huge four poster bed. She looked at the time on her phone. 11:00 A.M. She went over to the French window and stood staring outside the city skyline. It was like she had always imagined it would be-breathtaking.
She stood there for some time, put on some new rhythm and blues tracks and went for a quick shower. She decided to wear a white racer-back tank top with a pair of grey skin-tight Victoria Beckham jeans, flat knee-length Gucci boots and an oversized black cardigan, threw on a few accessories and went extra on the kohl.
She let her hair loose and sprayed some Chanel Mademoiselle on a few strands of hair and on her skin. She still wanted to look and smell good for him. She still remembered that he loved this perfume and kohl-lined eyes. When he called to tell her that he had reached, she looked in the mirror one last time and, satisfied with what she saw, she left her room.
Dan had been waiting for 5 minutes in the lobby when he heard her voice calling him from his back. He turned around and what he saw made him freeze. She looked exactly like she did 2 years back. He was getting flashbacks from the past. He suddenly started remembering everything and he tried hard to brush it off and managed a weak smile.
“Hey, did you wait long?”
“Nope, I just reached.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her; the dark kohl-lined eyes, the messy hair and the smell of that perfume which he loved. He suddenly wondered if it was a bad idea to keep in touch with her again, meeting her again, getting so close to her again. He was already beginning to feel hot down there, like he always did when she was close by. She noticed the uneasiness in his eyes and noticed that he was fidgeting. She was just about to open her mouth to ask him if everything was alright when she realized what was happening. He could see a flicker of a triumphant smile on her face. She still hasn’t changed.
7th September 2019:
She checked the voice mail he had left for her.
“Uh… Hey, I’m sorry I won’t be able to help you move in today. You know the usual. Work. I don’t think you need my help anyways so… Let me know when you’ve settled everything. Bye.”
She felt something pounding her inside and she slumped down a little as she gave out a loud sigh. He still hasn’t changed. She sometimes wondered if it was a mistake to be in contact with him again. She remembered what had happened and she shuddered inside, stifling a soft moan. Was it a mistake to meet him again? Was it a mistake to let him in her life again after what had happened? She held back the tears that were slowly brimming in her eyes and rushed to the closet to pack her stuff.
Dan waited all day for her to call. It was 9:00 P.M. and he still hasn’t heard anything from her. He wondered if she was angry because he didn’t help her move in earlier that day. He couldn’t think of anything else the whole day and had even canceled his date with the hot new recruit for the night. Damn! Why did he let her back in his life? Why did he even open that mail in the first place? He heard the text message tone of his cell and quickly opened it.
“Hey, I’m home. Thanks for everything. I owe you. Anyways, you must be having some meeting or something so I thought a text would do. Let’s have lunch whenever you’re free. TC”
He smiled. It was good to hear from her again. He couldn’t deny it. He still missed her and he still wanted her. But he wasn’t sure if that was right or wrong.
good post..and a good way of putting up your thoughts..now as for the title of the post...how about...
ReplyDelete"STRANGE LOVE"?
dunno if you'll like it..but still i guess that would be a good one!
thanks Tenzee...
ReplyDelete