The Way It Happens - Bite Size Love Stories

Goodbye and a Beginning

I wondered around the house for the last time. I peeked into my parent's bedroom to see my mom sleeping with that beautiful expression and graceful posture, always making me think of sleeping beauty. Baba was not home. I glanced into the twins' bedroom to find them at their play-station, playing like their life depended on it. The scene brought a smile on. Even two or three years back, Orpa and I were doing the same.

That brought an abrupt end to my last, peaceful tour around the house before I left for USA>, the next night. Thinking about Orpa- my best friend and neighbor 10 long years brought an instant frown on my face. Where is that girl? And why is she not with me on my last day in the country?

I almost ran out of the house, grabbing my jacket. First I went to Orpa's house, though I was sure she was not home. Had she been home she would surely ask me to come over or come to my place herself. The first thing I noticed on entering was an unfamiliar huge black Hammer and an alien crimson Lancer Ex parked in the ever –familiar driveway. The door was opened by Oshin- the idiot, Orpa's younger sister. There were a lot people inside. Oshin was wearing party clothes.

"Bhaiya! Why are you in these clothes? And apu will kill you for being so late! Hissed Oshin viciously with her eyes bulging.

I asked bewildered "Why? Was I supposed to be here? Orpa didn't tell me anything."A strange look passed on Oshin's pixie face. "Bhaiya! Todays apu's engagement with Fahim Bhai. Apu must have told you..."

My head felt light, "Who's engagement? Fahim who?"

"Uff! Dr. Fahim, Remember! He used to be your senior in school. Now he is a doctor, just graduated from Canada..."

Oshin blathered on. Nothing entered my head. Just then I saw Orpa on the second floor landing in a purple sari. Her long hair untied. She was talking with Aunty and laughing. The early afternoon sunlight fell through the painted glass, onto her. The coloured light made her glow. Is this a painting by some famous artist? I thought blankly.

"I must be going crazy"

Aunty's shrill voice screaming, "Oshin, let the poor boy come in. Oh! Tonmoy, it all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to tell Bhabi. I'll call her right away".

With this she walked away hurriedly to call mom. I didn't budge; I stared on blankly at Orpa, whose phone rang just when she had noticed me. She was talking on the phone and smiling. Her voice sounded oddly sweet. Was it always so sweet?

Her hair floated in the wind. She lifted her hand to put the hair flying onto her face, behind her ears. The purple sequins in her sari sparkled in coloured light. She looked like an image from the dreams. Or was it the day dreams?

"BHAIYA! Just get in!" Oshin's scream broke my reverie. Orpa had returned to the questioning, confused look so common on her face.

I turned and walked out of the house. Once out on the road, I started running. I ran without any direction. Blood rushing into my head, an odd buzzing sound in my ears. My heart pounded like a herd of crazy wild animals running. Running helped to tone down the wild feeling gnawing my insides.

Then suddenly I found myself in our school football field. Feeling dazed and lost I walked to the huge Taal tree, lying on the ground. Sitting down on it, a memory of Orpa punching me at this very spot flashed through my mind. I smiled involuntary. We were in class 5 or 6.

Looking around the field, I could see all our years together clearly. Orpa playing football with us guys, Orpa, Oshin and me racing for goodness knows what. Shilpa apu,Orpa's cousin, pointing out constellations to Orpa, Oshin, me and the twins and Orpa rebuking Rakib and me for performing poorly in the mocks. Orpa hugging me, after I got 4A's in A level, Orpa smiling at me in the airport, this year when I returned from University after two continuous years in USA. Lastly I saw Orpa looking so lovely in purple sari and waiting to be someone else's.

How can she just walk out on me, this way? Why does she have to get married so quickly? She's so brilliant, so lovely. She's so...so....MINE! Then why couldn't she wait for me?

"Jerk", said a sweet voice calmly, "what are you doing here alone?"

I turned around in a daze, to find a strange Orpa, an awfully pretty one, standing next to me staring down at me with one perfect eye-brow raised. Why didn't I notice her prettiness before?

"I asked you something. Why did you run out like that jerk? It took the life out of me to walk the field in these pencil-heels and sari!"

I gazed at her silently.

"Tonmoy!" she called sharply after a few minutes.

Right then I lost my head completely and asked her in a very normal tone,

"Why didn't you wait for me? You could at least get done with University before jumping into this. That too had to be with that Fahim-a**h*le! Why? "

That cute, confused look was on her face again.

"What the heck are you talking about?"

I replied monotonously, "About your engagement of course. Okay if you couldn't wait to tie the knot, in any case you could tell me yourself. I had to hear it from Oshin. I wasn't gonna kill you or your Fahim-rat. My love isn't lethal..."

"JUST SHUT UP, WILL YOU!" shouted Orpa flushing red.

I looked up at her in awe. Even anger looked amazing on her! Why was I such an idiot to take this lovely siren of a girl as a granted thing?

"Shilpa apu's getting engaged to Fahim bhai today at our place. And...." She paused frowning hard.

My face must have broken out into a grin of intense relief, a smile of gratitude to ALLAH for returning the light of my future, because a long, slender, fair hand crashed on my cheek hard.

"Don't grin disgustingly you dog!, then taking deep and angry breaths she continued fiercely," why should I wait, when you NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO ASK! How dare you accuse me of..of THIS when you have never cared A BIT!!!"

"But I do..." I tried to cut in.

"Oh SHUT UP! You went out on dates while I wasted time thinking about A COW who bears the name TONMOY."

"I didn't go out on dates!" I exclaimed defensively, "You know that very well."

"Oh! Now all those stories of hot blonde and brunette babes are false? GOODBYE JERK!!!" With this she turned and stomped off, stumbling childishly in her high heels and sari.

I just sat and stared at her smiling. The high heels will give me plenty of time to catch up to her and explain why it was so important to compensate my jealousies by annoying her with my exaggerated stories. My cell phone beeped to announce a message from Oshin. It read, "Mr. Blind Idiot I hope this has opened your eyes. Excuse me for misleading you with ambiguity. Hahaha..."

Orpa screamed to the sky at a distance. I chuckled getting up. A similar message must have reached her. It is time I say 'Goodbye' to my 'Just Best friend' of 10 years.