The long walk seemed shorter than usual. A few cordial words filled in the gaps between their silences. Awkward silences. Comforting awkward silences.
He glanced at her. She was looking as beautiful as ever. With just a pair of jeans, a white kurta and kohl in her eyes, she could make his heart melt.He knew this was going to be hard. Was this something he had always feared? Was this that little voice in him he did not want to accept?
She kept looking at the road ahead. Feeling the stones beneath her kolhapuris. Carefully dodging mud puddles and the kids with balloons, trying to stash those strands of hair behind her ear, while they kept falling on her face.
He noticed a chaiwala up ahead. He wondered if he should ask her if for a cup of chai. Thoughts rushed back to how they had first become familiar to each other ways while nursing those countless numbers of chai's and smiles. Reminiscing seemed to be the wrong thing to do then. So he just walked past.
She lingered behind him for a second; looking at the chaiwala straining a new batch of tea into the glasses.
"What?"
"Nothing. Something got caught in my shoe. Chal"
Roads got crowded now. People kept getting in between them, the noises seemed to drown them till they ended up coming through different lanes just to come together again at the end of the street.
They reached the station.
He stopped before getting onto the platform. He faced her, attempted to reach for her hand; but her hand suddenly jerked away to look for her cell phone.He just tried to read those eyes. He couldn't believe the fact that he couldn't. He kept trying to decipher but it was all haze to him now.
"Churchgate jaane waali baraah dibboh ki train platform number do.."
That was his Que. He reached in for that hug. She got on her toes and returned that hug. Left it a second too early and whispered
"Bye then"
He nodded. And walked.
Was this really happening? How is she letting him go? She still loved him. Why was it all burning down then? Why didn't he ask her for that cup of chai? Why didn't he lead her through the crowd with his hand on the small of her back like he used to? Why did he let her be? Why didn't he just stay and helped her end this day?
She ran till the first class compartment. For a moment, he turned.
It took just two seconds to steal a look.
And he was gone.