TILL INFINITIES END

43. TIA

I sat there thinking how I just wrote more than 2700 words and I didn't even realize. It was all so much in the air, almost unbelievable.

I flopped onto my bed, lying on my stomach with my legs crossed, phone still warm in my hand. Myra's name popped up on the screen right after I'd closed my notes. Perfect timing, of course. It's miss myra, y'all! The second I answered, she was all over me.

"How was the date, Tia? And so many things?! Tell me everything!!" Myra's voice had a never ending excitation for the details from the first second, and I could literally see her shaking her leg on the other end of the call as she wants to know everything.

I couldn't help but smile, my face lighting up with a smile just thinking about today.

"It wasn't a date, Myra... we just hung out," I said, trying to sound casual but totally failing.

"Oh, please. Just hung out? With Sam? Not buying it. Now tell me everything before I die out of this excitation."

I sighed, knowing I couldn't escape it, and also... kinda wanting to tell her.

"So, he picked me up around 10, and then we went to bholenaath's chaat house our usual spot where we sat and had the chaat. And then guess what? He took me to janpath." I said.

"janpath? Then?" she asks.

"then he bought me the items I sent you a photo of. He got me jewellery, bangles, kurti, a bag and a cute crop top. He was so sweet he carried all my bags and he also gave me his cap, to help me from sunlight." I said.

"What?" Myra screamed, "He bought you all that?! You lucky bitch! What else? Oh my God, I hate you a little bit right now."

I couldn't help but laugh, "nothing. We just had pani puri and then I softy outside the mall. Just the way we like."

"and..." she asks.

"and?" I ask her back.

"did he..." she doesn't finish but I know what she wants to know.

"yes. He did let me try both the flavours and then I ate the chocolate one." I said.

"Oh, my God! This is so unfair. Sam is way too nice! Then then then?" I could see her get up on the bed out of excitement.

"then we went to gurudwara to seek blessings. And then we sat there for a while and then went for dinner to all the street food stalls. We had pav bhaaji, chole kulche, noodles...everything!" I said

"owwww!!" she growled in excitement.

"then he dropped me home, and then gave me a bouquet of roses of all different colours, and then he hugged me before he left." I said.

Myra gasps, "You got a bouquet!? Of all roses? Oh my god, I'm so jealous right now!" She's clearly trying to lighten the mood, but there's an edge to her voice like she knows where this is going.

I laugh, mostly to cover up the ache in my chest. "Yeah, I know. It sounds cute, right? But..." my smile fades as I flip back and clutch the pillow tighter. "That was the last time we met before everything changes."

Myra's voice quiets. "Tia..."

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes as I let the words come out. "It hurt, Myra. It really hurt. I was standing there, watching him walk away, with his roses and the gifts he gave me, and I kept thinking... he has no idea. He has no idea that he's all I ever wanted. That he's been the only thing I've ever wanted. And now he's gone, and I didn't even cry in front of him. Not once. But... god, Myra, I felt it. I felt every second of it. That vulnerability, that helplessness of not being able to tell him how much I love him."