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As the temple bells of the last aarti rung, she pulled on her shoes with one hand, the mithai box in her other. This was her first time spending Diwali away from home. Her work trip in Bangalore had extended, and she was stuck without seeing her family for five days now.
Coming to the temple near their hotel was the only thing that could remotely remind her of her homely Diwali mornings. She quickly rushed around the little water cooler where the pandit ji distributed prasad.
And she collided. It was a blue, kurta-laden body that snugly fit the wearer. She looked up in astonishment, apologies on the tip of her tongue, when she was rendered speechless.
What was he doing here?
The last time she met him was at her final year farewell in school. He looked as handsome as he did that day, but now he had more to add to his well-defined features. The same round spectacles on his nose, his spiky hair flattened and tamed. He was much more mature now. And the glint in his eye showed he recognized her.
Shit.
"Ishwari?"
"Yeah." She cleared her throat, and continued after a pause. "Hi."
He quickly recovered from the shock. "Happy Diwali."
That's all he has to say? When I want to hug him so bad?
He extended his hand as a handshake. Going numb, Ishwari slipped her hand in his, her grip limp.
She could feel the days flash before her eyes. All the times she had made fun of him. His resentment towards her. Her rudeness. His determination and conviction to prove her wrong.
Him becoming best friends with her best friend.
All that turmoil.
The eye contacts between lectures. The rush to be seated next to him. The curiosity about his ideologies. The times she wanted to confess. Her desperation to be near him, but the knowledge that she didn't deserve him.
Why today?
It was Diwali celebrations, eight years back, when she had seen him in a similar, form-fitting blue kurta.
"Happy Diwali," she whispered, as she willed the tears to stop. She gave him a half-hug, appearing much more nonchalant than she was.
"How are you? Do you live here?"
Too many questions at once, Ishwari.
"No, I'm here on vacation. Do you still talk to Amarta?"
Ah.
Her best friend of so many years had gotten married last month. He couldn't make it to the wedding, apparently. She remembered her relief when she realized she won't run into him.
"Yes, I was at the wedding. What about you? Talk to any classmates from school anymore?"
"No. We lost touch."
"Ah."
They once again decended into silence. She took a breath in. She had gotten a promotion recently. He, too, looked like he was working.
And single, hopefully. Maybe I could ask him to-
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" She blurted out. Despite the embarassment, her eyes shined hopefully. She hoped he didn't see that.
He looked shocked for a second. Then he smiled. "Yes, she's inside. I am waiting for her."Ishwari smiled brightly. Her face resembled the sun. She thrusted the mithai box almost forcefully in his hands.
"A very happy Diwali to her too. Do give her my greetings, don't forget that," she nagged in her old bossy tone. She quickly took a look at her watch, "I would have loved to catch up with you guys, but I have to go."
"Oh. Could we catch you some other time maybe? Do you live somewhere near?"
He wasn't that talkative before.
She smiled an apology with her eyes.
And ran hurriedly, her feet still sticking out at the back of her shoes.
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