Retaliation

2

"I think it is all a matter of love; the more you love a memory the stronger and stranger it becomes."

― Vladimir Nabokov

***

"Hello! Agent Oxygen here," Oxygen was speaking to Agent Fluorine, who is a Level 3 Detective there, and also his team leader. Fluorine is exactly like the element Fluorine. So corrosive.

"Agent Fluorine here. Speak," Fluorine replied in a monotonous tone.

"The file regarding Operation M is safe."

After seconds of silence, Fluorine said, "Good."

"Thank you," Oxygen replied and hung up, placing his satellite mobile inside the last division of his chest drawer.

***

Oxygen accompanied Angela to the airport as she was leaving for Berlin. They were at the lounge, waiting for Angela's flight.

"I'm getting too jittery, baby. How will this end up?" Angela asked, initiating the conversation.

"Even I feel jittery. But still, we deserve what we deserve," Oxygen said, monotonously.

"Don't sound pessimistic, man!" She exclaimed, slapping his arm. "No matter how it ends. I will fight for our love. I could never afford to lose a guy like you. I swear, baby. I'm being honest," Angela said, in a seriously serious tone, while Oxygen secretly admired her for being passionate towards her relationship.

With a gentle smile, Oxygen said, "I know you, baby. But... Wasn't that supposed to be my dialogue?"

Again, she slapped his arm and said, "That's why you need a girl like me," and laughed lightly.

Holding her hand, Oxygen said, "I love you."

Looking at him, surprised, Angela said, "I think I'm not sitting with the real Oxygen. He won't be proposing to me like this."

Laughing gently, he said, "I just got time to say this. So..."

Then they heard the flight announcement, and they stood up to leave. Oxygen didn't have the heart to send her. He was feeling uncomfortable sending her home. For the first time in five years, he felt clingy towards her.

While at the terminal, Angela was all set to leave, facing Oxygen for the last time.

"Bye!" Angela said.

"Bye," Oxygen whispered.

As she was about to leave, Oxygen held her hand and pulled her towards his side. They were looking intently at each other. They were able to feel each other's breath, and they have never been this close.

"Baby. Are you alright? What's with you since this morning?" Angela whispered while checking if anyone was seeing them.

"I could never afford to lose a girl like you. I swear, baby. I'm being honest," Oxygen replied with a whisper, repeating Angela's line. Unlike Angela, he was staring deep into her eyes, which could make anyone melt.

"Are you romantic?"

"Not since this morning."

"Oxygen. I have to go. It's getting late."

Oxygen, who had been holding her hand since then, took away, while Angela chose to leave.

Sometimes, leaving for a while may seem like leaving forever.

And that's when you love someone.

***

It has been a month since Angela left. She should've arrived in New Delhi by then. But she hadn't.