Reo and Me

Twenty Seven

Aisha's POV

I woke up to see sunlight streaming in through the windows, curtains pulled away. I looked around my surroundings- white walls and cream bedding. My eyes widened as I looked beneath the blanket covering me- I was still dressed from last night. I let out a sigh of relief.

I got out of bed, wincing when it creaked a little. My head was bursting- I felt dog tired but I couldn't sleep in unknown surroundings. I looked outside the window- a backyard with green grass and me on the second floor. Where was I?

I went downstairs to the living room, looking around. My eyes fell on a picture on the wall- Sameer and his mom! The rest of my sleep evaporated. I was at Sameer's place! And mom must be worried sick.

I didn't see my purse anywhere. I looked around the entire living room. I went back up to the bedroom I was in and there it was- my shimmery black clutch with everything intact. But I couldn't see Sameer. He had probably left for work.

I wore my heels and went down to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. I saw water and Tylenol on the counter. There was a post it on the Tylenol.

"Aisha,
I brought you here yesterday. Don't worry, I've informed aunty. Take two of these and you'll be fine.

Sameer"

I did as instructed and left a post it of my own on the fridge.

Dear Sameer,
Thanks for your concern. I would be probably drunk in a ditch right now if not for you. Call when you're free.

XOXO
Aisha

I went out of his house, hailed a cab and went directly back to my apartment. I rang the doorbell which mom opened, a face mask on her.

"You're here." She said dryly.

"Yes. Sorry for being reckless." I apologised sheepishly. I behaved like a high schooler.

"You should act your age Aisha. It was kind of Sameer to take care of you." Mom said, rubbing her face clean of the mask. The revealing skin was glowing- the mask was really good.

"I know." I said, sitting down at the counter. My stomach grumbled.

"There's last night's takeout in the fridge. I ordered in." She said, not looking at me. I walked quietly to the fridge, for the said takeout and put it in the microwave to reheat it.

I remembered that I had sent the text to Reo and set that deal with myself- seen or not seen? I switched the microwave off and rushed to my room. My phone was in the same place where I left it and tried to unlock it. No response. It was probably dead.

I plugged into charge and breathed a sigh of relief when the screen lit up with the battery sign. I turned my phone on, still nervous.

The lock screen, which was a photo of me and Reo taken in Hyde Park glowed. I waited for it to connect to the wifi and checked the notifications. None from him.

Maybe he's done Aisha.
Or maybe he just hasn't seen the message.

The two sides of my mind argued. I decided to check. I opened the chat and there it was- left on seen. I glared t the blue tick as if it was the culprit. I breathed out loudly. I guess this ends here then.

My fingers hovered above the keyboard, not knowing what to type. I knew this was a stupid and not at all reliable way of doing things but I was petty. He didn't want anything to do with me, anymore.

In the end, I decided to send him the message.

Aisha:
Hey. I guess we're finally through, aren't we? I wanna make this less dramatic so I'll cut to the point. I'll be meeting Sameer soon. I haven't told my mom but she'll probably jump for joy. Thanks for this last year- I'll cherish these memories.

I hit send while sniffling. I couldn't believe we were through so easily. I went back to the kitchen but I couldn't bring myself to eat. I felt hollow- I had never felt this way about a breakup before.

June had sent me a text- it was about half an hour ago.

June: Slept with that cutie from the bar. Gosh he's good. Will call later, am okay. XOXO

I didn't bother to reply. Mom came out of her room. "Did you eat?" She asked, sitting down beside me.

I shook my head. I was afraid if I talked I Would cry.

"Something happened." She said, hugging me close.

I sobbed. "We broke up." I said in between my sobs. Mom shushed me. "You really liked him, didn't you?" She said. I nodded, wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"It'll be okay." She soothed.

"I'll marry Sameer. Fix the meeting." I decided, wiping my tears. I couldn't do this.

"Sweetie, you might be making a rash decision. Don't take decisions when you're high on one emotion. Think it out." Mom defended.

"I feel the more I think about Sameer, the more I'll be compelled to think about all that went wrong with Reo. I just wanna push it away." I persisted. I knew I was doing wrong but I just couldn't go back to him.

"If you want it then I'll fix a meeting. But don't absolutely say yes unless you're 100 percent sure. Don't make Sameer a rebound." Mom patted my head and went off to make some calls.

I went back to bed, suddenly tired. I turned my phone off and went to sleep, crying.

— 3 days later —

I had only been going to work and coming home. I had told June bits about what happened. I lay on my bed in the room; I could hear the TV on outside and Mom watching a movie. I went to the bathroom and looked at myself. I was still in the outfit from yesterday- my black pantsuit and hadn't bothered to remove my makeup off. My eyes were red and my hair had become frizzy.

I decided to stop being such a damsel in distress and get myself back together. It had been more than 72 hours since the breakup and I couldn't go on weeping.

I took a shower, shampooed my hair and washed my face. I changed into my comfortable pajama shorts and a t-shirt and blow dried my hair. It looked much more manageable now.

I put it into a top knot and went outside. Just as I had guessed, Mom was on the couch, bowl of popcorn in front of her as she watched another sappy Hindi movie.

"Hello!" She said enthusiastically, trying to cheer me up.

I grunted in response. I didn't wanna talk right after I had woken up.

"Popcorn?" She asked, offering me the bowl. I grabbed a handful and settled down beside her, watching the movie too.

"Oh yes. June rang me asking about you. I told her you were fine. Talk to her." Mom said. I nodded.

For the next two hours, I was watching the movie with my mother, crying along. She cried when the heroine died; I cried for an altogether different reason, but the movie became a good facade.