WITHERING ROSES

Happy

The next day.
4:25 pm
I was in the park waiting for Catherine, I sat on the bench where me and Ankita used to sit. The memory of our first time played in my mind, I remembered every single thing. I looked around, the park hadn't really changed much. I was looking at a kid playing with his dog happily just lost in the moment, lost in happiness. that was when I heard a familiar voice.

"Kalyan?" I  turned around.
"hey Catherine!"
        
I expected a hi back or a handshake but she hugged me tight like really tight.

"uhhh...?" I was confused
"Ankita said you liked hugs!"                 she was kinda blushing
"oh!? Yeah...*laughs*......... have a seat Catherine."

       She sat next to me, she had loose brown hair and brown almond eyes, freckles could be seen over her face, they were light, she looked nice(I know I'm acting like a bitch but....yknow Indians) somehow everything about her was brown. She was wearing a denim jacket over a checked brown shirt and a knee long brown skirt with embroidered flowers.

"wow, we spoke better on the phone *smiles*" she said.
"oh...um yeah, hehe sorry" I was nervous for no reason. Then I continued after a pause.
"you-uh- did Ankita pick your calls yet?"
"it appears to be switched off! *shrugs*"
"she never told you her address?"
"um no Kalyan I didn't bother asking her in new york... I never even thought I'd be here in Chennai!"
"oh, ok."
"yeah..."
"wait how did you recognize me? I mean... I didn't tell you what I was wearing did I?"
"oh no, no *small laugh* Ankita showed me the first pic you two took but you look different from that. Less stupid to be honest !*laughs*"
"that photo *head smack* I sure did look like an idiot *laughs*"
"yeah *laughs* but that's not how I recognized you... you were clean shaven in that pic, now you've grown a moustache, and a beard!? Yeaah, anyway-(she's not getting too the point*headsmack*) and you're wearing spectacles I see!*laughs* I recognized you because you were looking at that playful kid and smiling even though he didn't look at you...... Ankita did things like that, small things made her happy..."
Wow she's a pretty nice bestie for Ankita.
"oh! Well, thanks!*smiles* so um- what brings you to Chennai?" I asked.
"my dads company gave him an off for a month. So he wanted to go somewhere like for vacation... yknow the whole family and all. He asked me where I wanted to go and I said Chennai since I wanted to see Ankita... we're going to Mauritius and Venice after this..."
"oh... guess you can't see her can you...?"
"*sighs* no... I miss her. She's been my only bestfriend since sixth grade."
"I miss her too *sighs*"
"wait...you miss her or you wish you had her back!?!?!?"
"......... aren't they the same?"
"uh yeah......"
"*long sigh* kinda both."
"but she left you!!"
"she was brainwashed! You said so yourself!"
"yeah- but still..."
"she meant the world to me Catherine, she still means everything to me."
"............"
"what...?"
"any idea where she is?"
"No. She always told that she loved this park. That this was the place she felt... free? That's why I come here everyday...... hoping she'd be here."
"wow. I admire you..."
"was that a joke?"
"what*laughs* no! come on, she left you but you still love her, you still want only her! Anyone would admire you!!"
"admire someone who's better Catherine. I let her go. If I waited for some time, got myself together and spoke to her for atleast 5 minutes she would have changed her mind and still be my girlfriend."
"oh come on! Don't be so hard on yourself!!"
"its my fault *voice falters*"
"Kalyan... look you can't blame yourself for what happened, you didn't know she was brainwashed!!"
"I......I just wish she never went to new york..."
"its ok...... she let go of a nice person-she-she's gonna regret that someday."
"*smiles* you stole my line."
"it's a fact Kalyan!"
          Somehow Catherine made me forget about all my problems for a while, she made me smile really. She was an interesting person. A good girl with a good personality but unfortunately, all good people had to fake their happiness for the ones they love, all good people have a disturbing past, a disturbed mind, a mentally ill mind.. we spoke on and on

7:00pm
She had to leave.
"bye Kalyan!!! I'll see you tomorrow *hugs*"
"sure same place, same time!!!"
"thanks Kalyan *smile*" she said before leaving
"you're welcome!!"

      She left. That's when I asked myself, "wait thanks for what!?" I went home a little happy. She said thanks for a reason, maybe it was for giving her company, maybe it was for spending time with her, maybe it was just random, maybe new Yorkers say that! Guess I'll never know !