I was back in my hometown to celebrate Diwali with my friends and family.
I had been living in Europe for 1 year.
I had planned to watch a movie with my friends, and my sister, and her friend.
There were my friends, their girlfriends and boyfriends, my sister, her friends, and her friends' girlfriends and boyfriends.
We had booked one completed row, and half of the row above that.
One of my friends, Kirti, who had not planned to come with us, but with her friends and cousins was also there.
In total, we had whole two rows for ourselves.
Before the movie began, all of us met outside the hall.
Kirti introduced me to her best friend, Arti.
"Hey Amar, this is my friend Arti."
"Hi." I said and shook hands with Arti.
"She's single. You can date her." Kirti said out loud. My friends and sister heard it. They started laughing, and mocking me.
We got inside, and the movie began.
My sister intentionally made me sit next to Arti. I did not know why, because both of us were busy in watching the movie, instead of talking. Yet, I and Arti got to know somethings about each other.
During the intermission of the movie, I asked Arti if I she wanted to have snacks. She denied. I went to the washroom first.
As I was walking towards the snacks counter to get myself a Pepsi, I saw a familiar face.
It was Anusha.
I looked at her, and suddenly, she looked at me. Our eyes met.
She looked again, trying to focus on my face. I did the same.
It was her. It was Anusha, my ex girlfriend.
I didn't know what to do. I just waved at her. She waved back at me, and walked towards me.
We gave each other a light hug.
"Long time huh?" She said.
"Yeah." I replied. I was nervous. I did not know what to do.
"So... Where have you been? It's been like.... 2 years... We haven't met for two years. I can't believe that." She said.
"Nor exactly two. 1 year, 11 months." I said.
"Yeah Yeah. Where have you been?" She asked.
"Europe. Just my job, and all." I said.
"That's nice." She said.
"I notice you've longer hair now." I said.
"Even you have longer hair. And what happened? Why do you have a stubble? You used to like clean shaven. Didn't you?" She asked.
"Yeah. Just.... Trend." I said.
"So you're with your family?" She asked.
"Na. Just sister and friends. You?" I said.
"Mumma and brother." She said.
"You've been working out?" She asked.
"Um... Yeah I am." I said.
"I can see. How long are you staying?" She asked.
"I'm going back next week." I said.
Her brother brought the popcorns. She started walking inside. I started following her.
Before we entered, she turned around and looked at me.
"So this is it? This is how we're gonna meet from now on?" She asked.
"I don't know...." I said. I wanted to say so many things. I wanted to shout at her for breaking my heart. I wanted to spend more time with her. I wanted her back in my life, and at the same time, I wanted her out of my sight, and tell her that I didn't want to see her face anymore.
I didn't even know what I wanted.
"Look Amar, I know it's been two years, and I'm actually sorry about what happened...." She was speaking, but I cut her off.
"Don't be sorry." I said, and none of us spoke any further.
I came back, and took my seat, between Kirti's and Arti's seat.
"Guess whom I bumped into?" I said to Kirti.
"Whom?" She asked.
"Anusha." I said.
"Amar!! You just spoiled my mood. I hate her. Don't ever talk about her. She's nothing more than a scar to you." Kirti said, rather shouted.
The movie got over. As we walked out of the theater, I told Arti, "It was a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure was all mine." She said.
We hugged each other.
I got in my car's shotgun seat. My sister was driving. I was just looking outside the window, and thinking.
"You met Anusha?" Di asked.
"Yeah.." I said. I wasn't surprised. She must've seen Anusha.
"And my sixth sense tells me that right now, you're thinking about the moment you broke up with her... And probably regretting it." Di said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"I'm your sis bro. I know everything." She said and smiled.
"Meeting her after two years, and pretending to be okay is tough. Actually I was okay, until I saw her." I said.
"One year, eleven months." Di said. "Look. You've moved on. You're not going to meet her everyday."
"Yeah. But I know how I spent the one year and eleven months. It wasn't easy. Plus I was far away from you all too." I said.
"Yeah, but were you waiting for her? That's the question." Di asked.
"No...."
"Then just move on. She's your past. Forget her. Just pretend as if she wasn't there."
I sat quietly.
A few moments later, I spoke up.
"By the way, Arti is nice." I said.
"That's my champ." Di said, and her face lit up with excitement.
I just winked at her.
