Kiss me goodbye --- PART 1

“I’m leaving. Forever. I don’t see a future.” Diya said looking right into his eyes.Rishi was speechless. Nothing ran in his mind, because it was already strained… strained due to all those arguments in that month.

“Please react. Please tell me something”, she pleaded.

“Is it somebody else? Is it because of a new job? Is it because of the argument that we had the last week?” he wanted to ask her all those questions, but he blatantly asked, “So when are you leaving?”

She did not expect that. She knew he was hurt and he was finding it difficult to express it. She had gathered the courage to speak it out. She had even practiced it the previous night. But he wasn’t prepared. It was unexpected… uninvited.

She turned away and looked at the endless sky kissing the endless sea. She couldn’t see his eyes any further. He still looked at her. She was still his woman, the woman he worshiped for the past six months.

“I’m sorry”, she said looking at the sunset. She let the tide caress her feet not knowing his heart was also down under her feet.

He did not respond. They have been to that beach a lot of times. They have enjoyed the sunset together. This sunset was different. The sun was setting down forever in their relationship.

“So when are you leaving?” his voice was rude. He was angry but was hesitant to show it on her. He knew that she must be having a reason for the break up, but he was scared to ask for it. He didn’t want to know. He was fine with her silence.

“I’m leaving town in a week. For a new job” she uttered.

“Cool. How come I didn’t know it earlier?”

“I’m sorry for not letting you know. It was a telephonic interview. I was selected last week. Thought about it for a week now and I’ve decided to take the offer”

“I’m happy for you. You know what is best for you. Like you for that. But why should a new beginning in your career be an end to our relationship?” he asked.

“The distance. I hate it”

Rishi laughed and his heart felt light. He was confident that he could convince Diya that distance was just a stupid reason.

He held his palm over her cheek and ran his fingers into her hair.

“Which world are you in? You think distance is something that can kill our relationship?”She looked at him now. His eyes were bright with confidence.

“I strongly trust that this distance is the cue to our breakup. My last relationship meant nothing after waiting for him for a year. He came back as someone different. The damage was done, it was the distance between us.”
He saw something crashing behind her back. It was his world that was no more behind him and under his control.

“Can we leave?” he asked.

“We aren’t done yet” she insisted.

“If that is what you want, we can walk different paths” he obliged.

“Are you sure?” she was crying.

“If you are sure, I’m sure too” he didn’t cry.

“Thanks for understanding me” she said.

“Anytime” he said.

That night, Diya picked all his gifts that she had put all over her room. She took out all the cards and flowers that he had sent. Wrapped them all in white satin cloth and put a bow on it. “I’m sorry”, she wrote on it.

“I don’t want to do this to you. I love you. I cannot afford to lose you. But it is the distance. I’ve been through shit waiting for someone who went away to a far away land and came back as a different person. I don’t want to wait for somebody anymore” random thoughts ravaged her mind.

“I hate you for doing this to me. You were the only person I had ever wanted. I thought my search for that special someone ended when we decided to share our lives. Now you are here, trying to snap me off, and take away my happiness”, Rishi couldn’t accept this.

It was 1 AM. Rishi telephoned Diya.

“Can I ask you a favor?” Rishi asked.

“Sure. But don’t ask me to stay back” she hurriedly said.

“No. But I want something else”

“What is it?”

“Can I spend one whole day with you? Just 24 hours… for one last time?” he asked.

She couldn’t wait to say, “Yes”

He was excited. He knew he had 24 hours to change her mind, forever.

It was a beautiful dawn. Rishi did not sleep all night, but he was chirpy that morning. It was his day to make a lifetime decision. He was determined.

At 9 AM they met up at the café.

“One Café Latte and one Café Americana”, Rishi ordered.

“This is where it all started”, Rishi said as he kept looking at the menu.


(To be contd…)