Gone By (36 page)

“I never visited Goa, yet but someday I wished to” Peter muttered taking a sip from his beer can. “You should visit..it’s a fun place”.

The chilled beer shivered my throat. Not to make him feel bad somehow I kept managing to snarf. But my intentions weren’t much in beer. In the mean while we placed an order for the dinner.

“I heard something about you” Peter said with raising doubt in his voice.

“What” I inquired to know.

“I heard you’re writing a book about your love” he took a long sip of beer.

“Well, I did said you the first time we met” I added.

“Yeah! I remembered it...Just a forgetful brain”.

“Ahhh!!! Well..I don’t know how far it would be considered as book but I’m writing something that I missed in my life” I said. He nodded his head.

“You think good and you do good” Peter showed me thumps up.

“So, who’s someone interesting in your life” pulling one more sip of my beer can.

“Well, I’m just all alone for now” said Peter swallowing his last part of his left over beer.

By then we were served with our dinner on the table. I had few more sips to complete my beer. “You mean you don’t have a girlfriend” in my casual tone.

“No...I want true love if it happens not to hold around shits”.

Finally my beer can was empty. We initiated to take our dinner.

“I believe you should try falling in love once again” I gave a slow jerk of my voice.

He pretended to take a quick look at my face.

“Well, I should then, maybe I should begin to hunt for someone” he said passing a brief smile.

I tore a piece of chapatti and swirl in a bowl of sabjee and gently pushed inside mouth. While, Peter ordered for more.

“So, who’s the girl in your book” asked Peter.

He was very keen to know the character I was writing about. For moment I braked my words whether I should let him know what I was writing or it could be kept confidential for the moment until it’s completely out.

“Well, it’s a secret”.

“So, it’s someone special, you’re writing about huh!”.

“Yeah! You can say that, she was something special to me”.

“What..What do you mean she was?” Peter raised his voice with a thrash in his tone.

“Well, she’s no more in my life, that’s what” wriggling my body.

“How sad...but I bet you’re the man, She lost you, a great lost to her”.

I couldn’t decide whether to comment or to flash out a smile or to crack a silent laugh at this. But, at the end I just put a silent and brief open mouth laugh. By then we were over with our dinner. Had to share out all the bills or the expense we had that evening. Followed our steps out of the restaurant and added to walk together back to our den. Now, that evening the breeze was silent. And we both were the only person along a street walking. Took a short glance at my wrist watch. Time elapsed and the minute kept running. 10:00pm was quiet safe to have a lovely walk after the meal. Now when the ambient seemed so calm and peace, one can’t control to propel his heart from his life experiences to share. Moreover the effect of beer did really geared me up to disclose certain parts of my life to Peter. Even did Peter began to share his knowledge.

“What’s her name” Peter asked out suddenly.

“I feel not to bring it out”.

“Alright..it’s fine let it be silent” he added.

The street had very few numbers of people coming from opposite side. Whereas we were the only two people approaching from the other side.

“I don’t know how did I fell in love with her”.

“Well, my friend love never tells you to fall, it happens” said Peter lighting a cigarette.

I could just nod my head.

“Did it ever happen to you?”.

“Once but she’s out of this world now ... and for now not yet” Peter offered me a puff.

I received the burning cigarette from his hand and pulled one puff from it.

“You know.. I insist you to fall in love once with someone”.

“Oh! C’mon don’t need to insist me for that...well I’m fine being single” Peter gave a short laugh with sharp look at me.

We were very close to our room by now.

“So, who’s there in Goa” Peter sounded soft.

“There’s a lady name Isha..a good friend of mine”.

“Wow! Isha..when one door closes the other opens up”.

“No..she’s just a friend of mine. She’s a tourist”.

“Tourist..you’re kidding right” he added.

“No..She’s American by nationality and NRI”.

“Oh! Yeah you told me about that” said Peter.

“You got an NRI..How did you meet her” Peter slid his interest to know.

“Just met her in Mumbai”.

“So, something between you both”.

“No..we are just like we both. She has come to visit India and to study Indian culture”.

“She sounds interesting but I don’t Know far you can put trust on her”.

“There’s nothing about trust..It’s just a way of exchanging view of life. How so ever she’s a good person”.

“You know so much about her”.

“Yeah..I have spent few days with her, that’s how I just got to know her”.

“So, did you ever feel she likes you” Peter demanded to know.

“I don’t know about that...I believe I should just maintain a good relation being a friend. Anyway she’s leaving to America very soon”.

“That’s the reason you’re going to leave her”.

“No..I actually promised her. I would come to see her once before she leaves for America”.

“Is she an Indian origin” Peter squinted.

“Her ancestors were from India”.

While we were very close to reach our room. I could see the lights of my room glowing out, from few yards away. Peter had to go through the other way, while I had to take straight. We were at a point of junction where our road separated us.

“Have a good journey” Peter wished.

I forwarded my hand to take a hand shake. He shook and patted on my back and embraced like a brother to me.

“Have a good night” I wished him.

In response he wished me back and took his way. I looked on my way and walked off straight. Finally, I was standing right in front of my door. I did unlocked and shuffled in. Things were same as I left. My travelling bag laid packed on my bed. I shifted its position and placed it at one corner of my room. All I could think about writing my diary to give the night a good start. I grabbed it from where I kept it. Turned few pages. I did settled myself with ease on my bed. The pen was held in my hand. I began to read out certain line  from the very first page. I did still remember, how I wrote the first page. Isha sitting beside me and her head rested on my shoulder. Both on a running bus to Goa. I flashed out a brief smile on that reminiscing thought. I turned another page of my diary and began to read. Every time I read out a line I thought about Isha sitting beside me and the moment where I had written those lines. I turned the last page where I stopped my pen to drop its ink. I decided to continue with my story that night. Perhaps I could show Isha the full manuscript if possible. I began to write the next lines ahead on the empty page.

Now that I had been expecting a reply from Anannya in Facebook. It was Sunday afternoon I again logged in to check out my inbox. Yes this time there was something from her. She wrote me back.

“Hey! Where have you been, So good to see you once again. Never knew I would see again. It made me feel good to have you around. No matter in whatever way we are once again connected back......I’ll wait for your reply. Take care”.

I read it with all my open heart. Maybe I was screaming out in joy inside. I couldn’t wait in excitement but to reply her back quickly. I initiated to write her.

“I’m absolutely fine. You know I’m just three and half hours from you. So close to me you’re. I never thought you’d be in Pune. I would love to visit you very soon”.

With those very short words I ended my message and delivered her. That Sunday I felt very energetic, what was the reason I had no clue. But, something I constantly thought about had finally paid off. Yes, it was the reply from her I had been waiting patiently since days. I began to smile out again and every time I thought of reading her message repeatedly no matter if it doesn’t make any sense for the hundredth time. But I loved to read her words. She still remembers me, that’s what made me feel different from the rest. Even though we were apart for year with no contact she still holds my memory in her mind like I do. Now that I could only ponder every night and day about her. Thought of writing every little things happening in my life and to share with her through social network. I began to update certain thoughts about my life through Social Network. Message between us began to flow. Not a single day between us would go empty. Sharing each other’s life of happiness and sorrow through words.

Months have gone and ended now. We were still connected through Facebook. I couldn’t even schedule my time to visit her. The busy routine of my day always kept me tight with my work. So was she. I always wrote to her no matter whatever the situation would arise, but at the end of the day when I would write a line
for her that would satisfy me. Even it was the same for her. She did wrote to me every time and I loved everything she did used to write about her life. I used to read it like a story. I was very desperate to see her. But for the moment I was helpless, just could manage the day reading out her words. Days kept on passing and we began to feel the rise of our inner feelings unleashing from our hearts. Could no more conceal them but to share through words. I did asked her to message her cell number. She did wrote it in Facebook. So, the world of our relation began to grew more concrete and solid. Not only I could hear her voice now but also could see her through the use of Social Network. Gradually, we began to indulge ourselves more into our own world. Not a single day we would not share what we had inside between us. Every hours, days and months seemed to be blooming in colour in our life. She once text me, she wrote she had broken up with her boyfriend, Avick. I didn’t comment on that instead I gave her something more soothing words that would make her feel the charm. Someday I thought of visiting her. Maybe she wanted me to come and see her. She always told me about that. But, every time I failed. Not because of any reason but my tight schedule never discharged me from my work.

It was one morning I thought of escaping myself from my daily routine schedule. Thought of visiting Anannya. With no more delay I caught a bus and drove away for Pune. I had to make sure to let her know. So, after hours of travelling I was finally into the city. As per the address I headed. Finally, I could see myself at that particular address. Few  highly raised buildings stood upright. On reaching the spot I made a call to her. She came out from a gate few yards away from me. She stopped to approach towards me. Instead she stood in surprise. I could see she was struggling hard whether to smile or to laugh or rejoice the moment. I waved at her. She flashed a smile from that distant. I took my steps slowly nearer to her. She stood still, while I was making my moves softly towards her. The closer I got to her the beat of my heart raced faster. Finally, I was right before her eyes. She trembled to look at my eyes. That same shyness hovered on her face. Whereas I stood still with my soft gleam on face. She was still the same, since the time when I had seen her. The only thing that changed was, she looked more beautiful than ever before. For moment we stood silent without breaking any words between each other. Both looking at each one’s eyes, spreading the words of love through eyes.

“I couldn’t wait anymore but to just come into your arm” I broke out suddenly.

Her eyes got little dimmed and its size slightly pressed. Her face turned soft and filled with emotions.

“Come, I always wanted you to be here” she said holding my hand and we began to walk together.

She took me to one silent place. The surrounding had a river flowing gently. I could see the floating leaves on the water flowing swiftly along the direction of its flow. The river separated two land masses. On the other side, it had lots of tress grown wildly. Whereas on our side it was decorated as park. It gave an exotic view with birds flying high across the sky. Even the blue sky added its colour. We were both seated on the green grass along the edge of the river. Her feet touched the cold water. While I was yet to wet my feet. I gently plunged my feet into the running river water.

“It’s cold” I said.

She looked at me keenly and nodded. “It feels good to see you” she said softly.

So close we were seated, just an little inch space between us. I could feel her shoulder touched mine.

“I always dreamt of a day somewhat like this” with my eyes frozen in deep emotive verse.

“You liked the place” she whispered.

“Yeah! It’s wonderful”.

“I never thought I would meet you anymore, but look here we are today” my voice hissed slowly. “So, you’re in Engineering now” She asked.

“Yeah! So is You” I added. She nodded and smiled out.

“I don’t know where to begin, what to start with but it makes me feel really wonderful to be here with you” said Anannya peeking her eyes deep at me.