Just Like Old Times

Waiting at the railway station she rechecked her phone screen and it still showed 1700hrs the third time taking a deep breath lifting her diaphragm she imagined her wrapped in his arms the guy she was waiting for to arrive. After a while she could see the locomotive making its way down to the station smoking through making a stand by the air horn blowing hard, coolies arranging themselves as it was peek hours for their business and the chaiwala heating up its kittly. As the train came to halt with a jerk people were rushing to and fro, fighting for seats but her eyes were googling the long awaited guy who took a weekend off to meet her after a month of their graduation.

There he was in an old unwashed jean, t-shirt that says “free hugs” and a shoulder bag. As she laid her eyes on him searching for her in the dense crowd of Mumbai, their eyes met as she took a step forward and rushed towards him with every step she took, expanding her arms while he stood still looking at her for whom he had travelled a 1000km to see that puzzle piece that completes him. Burying her head deep inside his chest one hand around his waist while the other over his shoulder she finally calmed herself down as all she wanted was holding her more close and a kiss on her head was one of the things she missed. Finally his jaw expanded and he said “I’m hungry”.

Mumbai locals, an experience is must for any person from a CEO to dabbawala will be struggling to get into and out. The Couple headed towards Ville Parle the door of entering Juhu Beach with was their center point to meet during their Engineering, grabbing a bite of roadside pav bhaji an early dinner while the sun sets down into the sea clouds turning a color combination of orange mixed with purple and yellow, they walked down the road with her handbag bouncing against their hands held together chatting about memories they made on that road back then with bunch of their friends playing dumsharas, mimicry of professors and those romantic dates they have been together. Finally he spoke up “Ananya, I am happy with you, holding your hand gives me wisdom to get through many barriers in my life and motivation from closing my office work to home issues. All I want to say that I love you with my heart out I dare you not to give up on me in any condition that we come under even if we are not accepted by our respective family members, there will be an invisible guy loving you monitoring you, covering your back” she placed a finger on his lips shutting him off she leaned forward closing her eyes she kissed him feeling his pointing mustache over her upper lip while he grabbed her waist and kissed her as he missed that part since long, the moist lips then parted away and said with moist eyes “Fuad, with your name meaning heart you are my Fuad” he swept off tears from her eyes and said ”Let’s go home its already drizzling and I have a train to catch back tomorrow morning”.

Going back she rested her head over his chest grabbed him by his waist and he holding the handle could feel her body which was charging up for a month without him that 2 minute hug they made a pack per day never lasted since a month which was the best time of their day. Unlocking the cream colored door that same 1 room 1 kitchen with a balcony where there lived their last semester two beds on the ground and a blanket that they wrapped them in those winter nights and the warm bodies could cuddle up.

”I need a quick shower, and put on my shorts” as he entered the washroom while she was preparing coffee and a tea for herself warming the milk she heard the door opening and spoke “Forgot your towel?”

“Just like old times”.

She handed her towel but he grabbed her waist and pulled her inside she tried to be free but his strong arms did not let her move and then he again spoke “Just like old times” she smiled back and then the milk boiled much longer than it used to be creating a mess over and he helped her to clean. Finally she sat on the bed turning her laptop on checking updates on her project status she could sense Faud unzipping his bag pulling out a gift wrapped in blue paper with a pink ribbon. Her curious eyes glared over the substance, snatching away from his hands unwrapped it and found a wooden case inside which was a inscribed Ananya weds Faud with a question mark for Date - ? Her eyes watered down and she grabbed him living that moment which she wanted.

He laid his head down on her cross folded lap and spoke out of the blue “You know, I’m allowed for polygamy” she grabbed his hair tight and said “God, bless the other one” “You never change” but she could see his a broad smile over his face, dimples popping out which she wished she had. She gently placed her hand on him and leaned kissing his cheek which her chilled golden chain got caught over his nose and he again spoke “Just like old times” and then they laughed.

She was gazing over his brown eyes that did not spoke much but could tell her that he loved him, moving her finger through the scar she gave him on his forearm as he lifted his head and placed on a pillow while she rested her over his arm under the blanket and she had the best sleep after a long time.

A bright ray of light got on her eyes as she woke up, dizzy with rubbing her eye and putting her head back on the pillow, covering herself with a blanket and wished for a more of 5 minutes but something stroke her. She got up and checked as the apartment was empty not a clue where he was. With a letter on a the kitchen that read breakfast in the microwave, warm milk in the pan PS. I love you and then she spoke just like old times