Each and every time I decide not to think about her, her memories seem to trouble me more. How could I forget her sweet honey-like-voice and the way she used to call out my name, and how i used to lose all sense of awareness on hearing her. Nothing in the world could thrill me more than her beautiful voice. I remember the first time that I rang her up. Nervously, I picked up the phone and thought deeply whether I should call her or not. Finally gathering some courage, I dialed her number and then hit the red button just in the nick of time preventing a ring. I did this over and over again. I wanted to talk to her especially after that chance encounter but was scared.
It was our school farewell party and here was the first time that I met her, after 2 years. I had almost forgotten about her until then. I just glanced through her face in the party and all of a sudden something happened to me. Was it the disbelief of seeing her or was it her changed appearance. But did she really look changed? Maybe not, but i did feel something, something inexplicable. My heartbeats raced……it actually tried to race away from her. Something in me prevented from approaching her and saying a ‘hi’ . I felt awkward to go towards her because of the long gap after which we were facing each other. Would she recognise me? I felt like dragging myself away from that place, away from her. But no, I mustn’t do that as it would be rude not to greet her.What if we don’t get to meet ever again in life? Standing in a corner I decided I should go.
I turned………‘hi saint’ she said. ‘Oh, hi!’ i said ‘ when did you come? I didn’t see you. We haven’t met since a long time.’
She said, ‘Yeah, let’s go upstairs and talk there.’
‘Sure…..’ I said.
I walked with her and sat on a sofa upstairs. Suddenly I felt self-conscious…….Then she starts up the conversation, ‘So how have the last two years been?’ and we kept on talking. Time to time I look around to make sure whether anyone is staring at us. All kinds of thoughts start hovering over my mind. Will they get to know that I am feeling something strange for her, something which even I couldn’t figure out. I controlled this feeling and said to myself, ‘why do u think like this, saint? They are all your friends and we have come here for the farewell party. We are all supposed to talk to each other. Just don’t care about what others would think.’ This reassurance helped.
We talked for a long time on how much all of us have changed in the past two years, we talked about our new friends and our old teachers, we revived our funny old memories and laughed and asked each other on what our plans were for the future. And then the party came to an end and it was time for us to get back to our homes. Just before we were about to leave I ask her, ‘Hey do you again want to lose contact with me? c’mon give me your phone number.’ She gives it to me. Since i didn’t have anything to write that number on, i memorised it.
Its been a year since that meeting and I have forgotten a lot of things in life. But no matter how hard i may try i can’t forget that bloody number. Today out of loneliness I dial that number again and hear it for the hundredth time : The number that you are trying to reach is currently unavailable!
I sigh and say to myself ”just move on, man………………….”
