Last Stop: Love

10. Benefits of barter system

Meetha wanted to live.

She had this intense desire to experience all that life could offer. She wanted to explore every inch of the world, meet every single life on the planet, see every single sunrise and sunset possible.

More than that, she yearned to be swept up once again in the warm, intense bear hug that Irfan had bestowed upon her a few moments ago.

She looked at him smiling like a child. He beamed with a proud visage. The pride was hers alone, a testament to her perseverance.

“I am so so proud of you, Meetha.”

Meetha blushed and held her gaze down.

“Thank you for choosing to live. You are going to live a long, happy life with all your loved ones by your side.” He spoke earnestly.

Meetha wiped her eyes with his handkerchief. She could smell the faint scent of his cologne in it. The same cologne she smelled when he enveloped her in his arms. The impromptu hug had been awkward and silly, but the veracity spoke to her heart.

She knew it would be tough to trust a person again after what she'd been through, but she wanted to give it a chance. Maybe, just maybe, it will be different this time.

“Does it make me a shallow person if I feel free?”

“No. From what I've heard, people process grief in their own way. I think your coping mechanism was this fixation to die. You suffered enough, now it's your turn to be free.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I really do,” he assured her.

Meetha smiled radiantly. “You saved me, Irfan. Do I owe you my life? I know your barter system is a bit based. Five hours of time in exchange for a cup of tea,” she joked.

Irfan chuckled too. “You don't owe me anything, Meetha. Just promise me you'll live your life well. Suicide is never the answer, whatever the problem is. Ajith doesn't deserve another moment of your time. Forget him like a fleeting shadow, a bad memory if you will.”

Meetha shook her head in denial. “Ajith was a part of all my happy memories. Forgetting him is not what I wish for. I want out of the relationship I thought we had. I want him to be an acquaintance and nothing more in my life.”

Irfan was suddenly stoic. She could tell that he didn't agree with her thoughts. She felt a pang of disappointment as she assimilated the fact that Irfan might be a typical guy after all.

Meetha rose from her seat and walked towards the door. When Irfan tried to follow her, she halted him with a stern glance. “I'm not gonna jump off the train,” she snapped. “You don't have to chase after me to protect me.”

Irfan looked like he'd been punched in the face.
                                       
Without a moment to waste, he grabbed her by her arm. “I did not even think that. What happened, Meetha? Why are you getting worked up all of a sudden?”

“Why did you remain silent? Just because I disagreed with your advice? Because I said I can't forget Ajith?”

Irfan sighed deeply. “I fell silent because I was pondering your words. About the complexities of getting your heart broken by someone you've known forever. You can't simply erase them, no matter how much they hurt you. It is a tangled web of emotions. I was thinking about a way out of it.”

Meetha fell silent, her head hanging down in embarrassment. He gently led her to the doorway, with his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

“It's hard, I know. I won't ask you to trust me immediately, but just give me the benefit of doubt. Try not to jump to conclusions when you're feeling confused. Ask me; argue with me; demand an explanation. I promise I'll be honest about my thoughts.”

Meetha's eyes welled up with tears as she turned to face him. With a tender touch, he gently brushed them away with his thumb, his fingers grazing her cheek in a comforting caress.

“I will never hurt you, Meetha. You are far too precious to me.”

With a silent sob, she buried her face in his chest, holding him close in a fierce hug. Irfan stood frozen for a moment, before wrapping his arms around her with a happy sigh.

“This hug is better,” he heard her say and couldn't help but laugh.

“You amaze me, Meetha. Only you can make me scared, angry, sad and happy, all in a minute's time.”

“What can I say, I'm weird like that!”

Their laughter resonated in harmony, surrounded by the pleasant tranquillity of the night.

The bliss lasted for a minute, until the train arrived at the next station and passengers clamoured to get aboard. Meetha and Irfan stepped aside from the path. She glanced at the busy platforms, where the people scuttled about, even in the middle of the night.

He saw her awe and smiled softly. “You should see Hyderabad. It's even bigger and busier. It's also louder than these stations.”

“You've been to Hyderabad?”

“A few times, yes. My dad used to take me along for his business trips. We also visited as a family for pilgrimage and sightseeing.”

“So, tell me about the city..”

“Hyderabad is magical. It is the largest city I've seen, always pulsating with activity and people, with every corner having a story to tell. There's rich history for the city, and there's also stunning modernity. It is amazing how those contrasting elements are woven seamlessly into the city's vibrant culture. That place is something else, Meetha. To understand its charisma, you should experience it yourself. Rather than being told about it, it's best to feel it firsthand.”

Irfan's animated narrative brought the city to life, his words spilling out in a joyful rush, his passionate descriptions painting a vivid picture for her.

Meetha's amazement was evident in her eyes. Irfan's enthusiasm was contagious, and she was eager to visit the City of Nawabs and to see for herself if his words did justice to the city's charm.

He peeked at his mobile screen. “Fifty more minutes to go, for you to see Hyderabad in all its glory.”

“Can't wait!” She quipped cheerily.

She felt a sense of purpose, and an unshakeable will to live.

***