The ring of the phone was greeted with gleeful surprise.
‘Hello!’As she put back the receiver on the cradle, she was amused by the childish foolishness of Manoj. How could something threaten their relationship which was built in stone? She wanted to laugh it off.
‘Hey, how are you my sweet lady! Oh, I have been missing you!’
‘I’ve been missing you too. How are you? Everything going okay?’
‘Yes, everything fine. Lately, there have been some activity at a border post a bit north. But nothing here. Don’t worry.’
‘Oh, how can I not worry? I want to spend my life with you and you are out there shooting at terrorists! I have seen so many news stories in the channels about new attacks. I’m scared Manu, I really am!’
‘Come on honey… you know it’s my job. I can’t leave that. And I’m proud doing that. Don’t worry, I’ll be coming back to you intact. Just keep yourself pretty enough to surprise me.’
‘Oh, I will. I love you Manu… I love you!’
‘I love you too, honey. Talking about love, I’m getting some bad dreams lately. I dreamed of somebody coming and stealing you from my life…’
‘Aww, come on! You know I will all be yours. I love you and I mean it. Nothing could ever come between us. Don’t you worry about it, honey! I love you, remember!’
‘Okay, honey. I trust you. I have to hang up now and go back to work. I’ll call you tomorrow okay?’
‘Do remember to call me. I get scared if you don’t. Even a slight delay scares me.’
‘No, I will. I promise. Let me say goodbye. Love you!’
‘I love you too. Good bye.’
She was at her office washing her lunch box. She turned on the faucet even more so that none could hear her gentle sobs. The last two days were unimaginably wild. She had run into her college mate at the mall the day before. Samuel seemed to have lost a lot of weight and gained a couple of decades of wisdom. He had initiated it, and one thing had led to another and they ended up in making love in his bedroom.
She had woken up earlier than usual to an intense headache. It must have been the extra drink that she had yesterday night at the pub. She looked over and saw his lithe body sprawled over the other side of the bed covered with the luscious fabric. He was everything that she had wanted but he was just a year too late. He had a day job and had an apartment in the nearby neighborhood.
She woke him up and told him about Manoj. He took it well. He said that it was okay and they could just be friends. They could just keep the relationship right there; stagnate it and not let it advance. She had felt guilty and hopeful at the same time. As she left the apartment, he had given her a light kiss on her lips…
‘Is everything alright?’ her colleague asked as he went past to the pantry.
‘Yes, I’m okay. Thanks!’
‘Hey, how are you?’
‘I’m okay. It is getting very cold here though. How are you?’
‘Well, I am okay. I wanted to know if you were alright?’
‘I’m fine. Is everything alright?’
‘Well….’
‘What’s wrong? Is your mother okay?’
‘She’s fine. It’s not that. It’s something else…’
‘What is it, Pooja?’
‘Well, I don’t know how to say this… I love you, more than ever… but I have a crush on someone else?’
‘Wha… ‘
‘Are you alright? I’m sorry honey. It was so fast that it hit me before I realized it. Are you okay? I’m sorry…’
…
‘Yes, I’m okay. A little scared.’
‘Come on, don’t get scared. You know nothing could stop us. You have my word for it.’
‘Who is it?’
‘It’s Samuel… my friend from college... the guy who I had a crush on while I was in my second year. We had gotten high and ended up sleeping with each other. But don’t worry. We have talked about it. We are not seeing each other any more. I’m sorry… I’m really sorry Manu. I love you!’
…
‘Are you alright? Was I mean? Did I hurt you?’
(sobs)
‘I love you, you know that!’
‘I … love you too… but I’m… scared.’
‘Please Manoj, forgive me. I have wronged. I need another chance.’
…
‘I’ll call you back!’ and he hung up.
He didn’t call her back. And there was no way that she could reach him. A few days letter, she received a letter from him.
‘Dear Pooja,
I respect your honesty and sincerity and our love. I love you and hence, I want you to be happier. I'm far away and my work commitments prevent me from being with you. I think that I should allow you to live your life with Samuel, who should be able to be with you and give you the physical company that you need. I want to end our relationship in a dignified manner. I’m sorry that you can’t take part in this decision. I wanted it that way, so as to ensure your happiness.
I will love you forever. Be happy.
Yours
Manoj.’
Samuel was reading the newspaper when he saw something familiar. It was the advertisement that had made him buy that lovely pink saree for Pooja. ‘I must tell Pooja to wear that saree more often.’ he thought as he dialed her number. It took 10 rings before someone picked it up.
‘Hey Pooja, how are you?’
...
*static*
‘Hello? Pooja?’
*static*
‘Who… is speaking?’
‘Hello, hello… may I speak to Pooja please?’
…
‘Sorry sir, I’m inspector Ramesh speaking. We got this phone from the river-side yesterday night. It probably is the phone of the woman whose body we found yesterday night ...’
