It was a warm sunday afternoon. I had told my father I am going out to meet a couple of my friends. I was wondering whether I should be getting all dressed up to meet her. But somehow my laziness or my indifference, I couldn't figure out which one, made me act otherwise. I decided not to. Faded jeans, and a loose old tee shirt made me feel comfortable, and I felt like everything belonged to me rather than feeling I belonged to the place; you know, the amplified 'been there, done that' feeling. The bike responded quite well when I switched the ignition on, and it wasnt too long before I was cruising on the roads to the coffee shop. The breeze was warm, but it made me feel good. Ah! it was supposed to be a nice casual outing.
The coffee shop guy greeted me, as I was a regular there. I waved back at him and signaled him to get me my regular, a litchee soda with some french fries. Nothing special really, something that I, over a period of time, had realized is a really soothing combination. I sat at the table that I regularly sat at. I could see the traffic moving, and the relaxed faces of people driving as it was a sunday. The expressions would have been quite contrary on any other day. I waited for her. It was quite usual for her to turn up late, really late. I wasn't really perturbed. Three years with her, and two years away, had taught me a lot of virtues. Patience was the first. Indifference was next. I lit my cigarette, blew a few rings and waited.
Then came my soda, and the fries. They tasted really good on this sunday. There wasn't much of a crowd when I had walked in. Now, the place looked like it didnt have any more space to offer. I saw a teenage couple trying to find themselves some room in one of the cozy corners. I remembered the times when I was a teenager, and with the thoughts coming to me, I couldnt help but smile. The boy who was trying to help his girl settled down, caught my smile and gave a guilty as well as 'I will kill you' look. I smiled back. He sat down and didn't look at me again.
There was this another guy sitting at a table, which was at the far end of row of tables, the same as mine. My back was facing him, and I had witnessed him when I was entering the coffee shop. He had given me a weird stare then. Though I was oblivious to the rest of the things around me, it was his presence that had bothered me. I looked back once and he smiled at me, and I thought I had seen him somewhere before. Anyway, now he looked quite comfortable with the place too, and his thoughts left my mind. I was back to my usual self, and continued sipping my soda, and smoking my cigarette.
After about three quarters of an hour of the scheduled time, she entered. She was looking as beautiful as ever. She had this aura around her which was so magnetic and soothing. Something about her had always made me feel safe, secure, and on top of the world. I did feel all the same today. But I wasn't with her for the past two years.
She sat down and apologized for the delay. I gave her a casual smile and she understood that it had not really bothered me. She started speaking about her usual life. Her voice still had the same clarity and lovely tone that any man would love to hear the first thing in the morning. It felt good to know that it was still the same. She knew it very well too. But the only difference was that she also knew it did not make a difference to me anymore.
My cigarettes and smoking was bothering her. Politely first, and then assertively which almost turned into an order, she made a request to throw away the cigarette and not smoke any more. I obliged. The obligation was only for the meet, but I guess she thought it was for the rest of the life. Slowly she started speaking about the three years that we were together, and I listened intently. Those three years were possibly the best times of my life, and I liked to relive them.
She told me she was happy now. The guy she was with was supposedly keeping her happy. Before talking about her current happiness, she spoke of her behaviour when we had to stay really far away after those wonderful three years. Circumstances, primarily our careers, had made us go different places. I had always thought, and she had always told me that we would still be together, no matter what. But that wasn't to be. She was lonely then, and as I had always known her, she needed a shoulder to rest on, and fortunately for her, she found one. I had to let her go. This is when the most important virtue kicked in, indifference, though it was second in line to come to me.
She was now happy, and all was well.
I took another sip of my soda and offered her one. She declined. I remembered that she used to have a liking for litchees too. Maybe she had had too much of it while with me. We were waiting for her order to arrive at the table.
She was looking at the traffic on the road, while I heard someone walk up right next to our table. She turned to look.
Bang!
She said, 'I am ss. . .' and collapsed. I could see the red blot on her white tee increase in size.
I turned around to face the man who was standing right next to me. He was the man from the last table. His gun was still smoking. He said, ''I knew she was trying to get back to you, and she would leave me''.
Before I could say, or do something, he kept the gun below his chin and blew his head off.
I sat there for two more minutes, took out another cigarette. The teenage boy was staring at the scene in shock. I got up, walked to the counter. The accountant was trying her best to smile. I paid in hundreds and asked her to keep the change. I smiled at the teenage girl, and walked out of the cafe.
--
I drove into the gates of my house to find my father giving my dog, Louis, a bath. He asked me to lend him a hand. As I was in my old clothes anyway, I did not bother changing into anything suitable. I wiped Louis with the towels, and was playing with him, when my father went in.
He came out with a couple of beers, and handed me one. Louis was wagging his tail in anticipation. My friendly pats told him he wasn't getting any of it. He understood and found a twig to get interested in.
The usual clinking of the bottles followed by my father asking me if I had any plans for dinner. I shook my head, to which he said that he had made plans for the two of us, and asked me to give the car a wash. We had almost finished our beer, when I stood to walk towards the car. My father patted my shoulder and said, ''He has been well insured and the policy loopholes are fixed. It won't be taken as a suicide. His parents won't suffer''.
He handed me another beer, snatched the twig from Louis, and took him for a walk.
I remembered the red blot only to dismiss the thought and walked towards the car.
