Black and White

Chapter 4

I had told him that I needed time to come to terms with the idea of being in a relationship again. I wanted to wait before we told any of our friends. The next few days were a mix of happiness, exuberant emotions and clandestine meetings. To be honest, I was happy to be in my bubble with him, it was our little world where there was only place for happiness, no jealousy, no judgement...nothing but us.

During the same week, I was going to Kodaikannal with my friends. It was one of the best trips I have had and also the first trip with my friends. We tried new things, learned more about each other, met a lot of new people and explored the beautiful hill station. During this time, he and I continued to text as and when the network and time permitted. We would keep each other updated with everything that was going on; send photos and long messages about how we missed each other. I missed him. I missed our daily walks, our conversations, him holding my hand, him kissing my cheek as we walked and just the way he looked at me.

The day I was coming back to Bangalore, he planned to pick me up with a rented car. Fate had other plans. A whole slew of events followed, which included me forgetting to pick up my bag from the bus and then chasing the bus with an auto at 4 am. Thankfully, I retrieved my bag and when I sheepishly messaged him about everything that happened, he told me he was waiting at the bus station that I was initially supposed to be arriving at. I was pleasantly surprised and my friend gave me knowing glances as we got off the auto and waited in the middle of the streets, for him to come pick us up.

Airports have always been special for me. I mean, those places house some of the happiest and saddest moments in people's lives. Saying goodbye to a loved one, despite how small the period of time may be, has to be one of the most difficult feelings in the world. Meeting someone again, to be held again, to hug them, to feel them near you is a feeling of true elation. How ironical is this life to have such vastly different emotions, stay in the same place, breed the same grounds making your heart lurch all the time?

Seeing him glide the car to halt beside us seemed to me like that indescribable moment in the airport, when you see someone again. I had missed him and an involuntary sigh escaped my lips. I had to stop myself from kissing him as he looked so cute and sexy sitting in the driver's seat but because of Pari I restrained myself, while a smile never left my face as we dropped her home. And then the fireworks began.