anupamaa :
I had secretly messaged Kavya to take the kids with her.
And now we sat at the dining table of his four bedroom apartment.
The house of dreams.
He had changed into a casual t shirt and pajamas, and I wore a kurti. We were wet, so it was necessary to change into dry clothes.
There was an awkward silence for moments.
"Can we sit at the balcony?", He asked.
"The view is really great from there."
I simply nodded as he stood up, trying hard to not meet my eyes.
I followed him.
He sat on the grass carpet in the balcony, resting his back on the glass doorway.
"I hope you don't mind sitting on this..", he said softly, sounding unsure.
I nodded in a no, with a subtle smile as I sat beside him.
There was a strange feeling of warmth.
The sun was setting in the horizon by now.
The sky lit up with a beautiful golden hue. Stars appeared dimly.
I inhaled the scent of fresh air.
And I abruptly realised something.
"You changed your perfume.", I said, pretty startled myself.
He glanced at me, impressed.
"Yes, I did. I wanted to get rid of everything old and start afresh.", He said drawing in a deep breath.
He sounded very different. Not for once did it feel like I was talking to my ex husband.
He sounded like an old friend.
There was a moment of silence and then he said
"You know.. many years ago I used to play Holi. With all the colours, and water balloons! It was so much fun I tell you.", He said.
"But then why did you stop? Dolly had once said you'd hide under the bed and all..", I asked softly.
He lips curved into a soft smile.
"When I was some six years old.. some older boys of my neighbourhood decided to bully me. Not to mention, I used to get bullied a lot. Was never the strong boy in class you know.", He said, looking at the sky.
"They had caught hold of me and legit smeared my face with colours. The paints, you know. The paint had been black and it hasn't left for over a month. It was pretty embarrassing.", He said, he was smiling but I could see the slight twinkle near the corners of his eyes,
"I was too scared and traumatized after that. And after I stopped playing for two years, that became my normal."
He glanced at me.
"Now you probably think I am a weakling—"
"I don't.", I said earnestly.
He glanced at me strangely.
"You don't?"
"Why would I? Even people made fun of me because I'd put oil in my hair and go to school in pigtails, or when my mother would send me with torn shoes. People are always like that. They like to pick on others just for the sake of fun.", I said, remembering how pathetic some people were.
"Then finally we are on the same page.", He said edging slight closer to me.
I looked at him.
This was him.
"Not to mention, even my girlfriend made fun of my broken English sometimes.", He said, sighing with a smile.
"Broken English? And you?", I asked shocked.
"Obviously. I studied in a government school, remember? Our finances were too weak even to afford English classes. My English was worse than yours. Then I started reading English newspapers and watching movies. Trying to talk and slowly slowly it improved. ", He said.
"On the same page, yet again.", I said with a smile.
He looked at me with a raised brow.
"Let's do a little rapid fire then. We'll know how many pages are same in our books.", He said.
I nodded.
"The most important thing in the world?"
He paused, with his fingers he did.. three.. two.. one..
"Our kids."
Both of us said in unison.
"Now my turn!", I said.
He nodded.
"Favourite place of timepass?"
3..2..1
"Nattu ki chai ki dukaan!"
This time I was shocked.
"Wait even you?", I asked.
"Obviously. That was my comfort place. I'd sit there with my friends and talk about nonsense for hours.", He said grinning.
Next was his turn.
"Who is your current one true love?"
With that question a strange smile appeared on his face.
My answer was very clear in my head and I wouldn't lie.
And I knew his answer as well so there was no surprise.
Three.. Two.. One..
There was a pause.
I shut my eyes, I didn't want to look embarrassed now,
And then both of us said.
"You!"
I paused as he looked at me.
The smile intact.
I felt my face go warm.
"Did you also..?"
He simply nodded.
"But.."
"Five years is a long time, Anu.", He said drawing in a deep breath,
Satisfied.
I stared at him.
"How can I be?"
"When were you not?"
•••
YOU ARE READING
Estranged | ✓
Lãng mạn"ever felt what living in a cage is?", he asked looking at the night sky above. "no..", i mumbled. he looked at me with bloodshot eyes and smiled. "funny how you don't realise you are in a cage." • Written as a fanfiction. Might be read as a standal...
