little things matter (short stories)

I'm sorry

A soft sadness blankets me in the morning. I wake up with a rush of sorrowful thoughts about last night. Without effort, my brain runs through a list of sad things that happened between me and Akshat. I feel sad and get out of my bed as regret crawls over me. But it's not like I am going to apologize. I wasn't wrong. 

He promised me I could work after marriage and now just a month before our special day, he told me that his family wouldn't allow it. I was angry because he didn't tell me before about it and we had a serious argument. All the chats and calls ran through my head hurting straight making my heart feel heavier as I took a shower. 

I wore a simple white kurta and headed out for work. 

I didn't get the time to eat as I woke up late. I heard my stomach growling in hunger. Suddenly a pat on my shoulder made me aware and I turned around to see Abhinav. I was shocked to see him after so many years. What's he doing at the train station? 

"Hey, how are you?"
"I'm fine.....", I forced a smile, "What about you?"
"I-uh am doing okay. It's good to see you all of a sudden.", he mentioned and all the harsh memories flooded me. How he cheated on me ten years ago is still there somewhere inside my head. I never wanted to see him again after that. 
I just smiled and lowered my head not knowing what to say. I couldn't care anymore about finding topics to talk to him about. I went back to scrolling through Instagram. He stood beside me for a moment and said, "So, you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I'm engaged."
"I wish it were me.", he caught me off guard and I looked at him frowning with confusion. I couldn't understand why was he again stating meaningless things.
"No, you don't.", I gave him a polite truth about himself. Guess he still doesn't know himself.
"I know what I'm saying, Khushi. After you left, I realized you were the Khushi (happiness) to my dard-e-dil (pain in the heart).", I rolled my eyes at him. Who wouldn't?
"At least stop flirting with an engaged girl?", I was annoyed at this moment.
"Huhhhhh, I just said that so that I don't die without letting you know about this."
"Just stop it, Abhinav. You're being too much now."
"I am being too much? What about those 'please don't leave me Abhi' and 'please don't go' texts you sent me before?", he was raising his voice at the platform catching the attention of people around.
"That was like ten years ago, and what do you think you're doing publicly? Stop it, just leave!", I was already sad and frustrated, and now this prick ugh-

My train was visible from afar arriving at the platform. This was when Abhinav was planning to get slapped by me. He held my hand and wasn't letting go. How dare he?! Ugh-
I was trying hard to release myself from his grip but couldn't. 
"I won't let you go. You can't marry someone else!", he has gone mad. God, save me!
Everyone was looking at us as if two couples are fighting which we were not. I felt so ashamed and I needed Akshat at this moment with me. But dang it, he lives in Asansol and I was here at Bidhannagar station! 

An unknown external force yanked Abhinav's hand off mine and in fraction of seconds I knew it is a man. I was relieved someone came for helping me. But I was displeased by the act of him holding my hand firmly as he faced Abhinav.
"Don't you dare touch her!", the voice...the voice is...Akshat! How? It's impossible! 
"Who are you? It's between us, leave her."
"She's mine. Can't you see she is engaged?", it's him, yes. I was confused. So much.
"Oh, you're that guy, HUh! ", he laughed pathetically and I was still in disbelief that Akshat is here. 
"Leave. Or do you want me to call the police?", he was so straightforward about this, I was melting. But consequently events of last night flooded my head.
Abhinav left without a word. I saw him disappear in the crowd and felt much relieved.


Akshat turned towards me and asked, "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
"N-no, I'm alright.", I said almost whispering in a low voice.
"Here, have some.", he handed me a piece of cake and a packet of biscuit. I rejoiced within myself as I saw food. I took a large bite from the cake and it melted in my mouth. I was devouring the taste when I asked him,

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh no- the train!!", I widened my eyes as the train started moving. It was departing. Oh shit!
He ran to the closest gate of train and I shoved the remaining cake into my mouth with the biscuit packet in my hand, ran over to him.

He pulled me up on the train and we took a moment to catch out breath. 

We were laughing as we looked at each other. God! The way we were going to miss the last train to my work, oof! Thank god!

after sometime,  we both calmed down and only the sounds of train running on the tracks could be heard while the wind was causing my hair strands to be all over my face. I opened the packet of biscuit, my favorite one. He knew it. I offered him but he gestured me to have them. I shrugged and chewed on the biscuits. He inched closer to me, and set my hair aside from my face, to behind my ear. I couldn't help but blush.
"I'm sorry. About last night...", he said in a low voice and I was awestruck. He just came all the way here travelling for 4hrs to say that to me? 
I was at a loss of words as realization hit me. 
" I promise to convince them about your work. I'm by your side. ", I smiled at him and nodded letting him know, I forgave him. He stood close to me looking out at the scenery. And I looked at the man I will marry.

I smiled to myself as he proved that I made the right decision about marrying him.

He is the one, truly and absolutely.