THE LOVE THEY OWED

"You're late," Mehrish uttered. Her voice was even.

He glanced at his watch. "I had an emergency call. You're the least important thing on my calendar today."

He stated it flat.

"Good," she replied. "Then I won't waste it. I need this said face to face."

He signaled the waiter with two fingers. "Coffee. Black." Then he looked at her. His eyes stayed on her nose ring for long. "Say it."

Mehrish folded her hands on the table. Her knuckles were white. "Tell everyone you're not interested. Tell everyone that you refuse this rishta. Say it clearly. In front of them."

"And why would I do that?" He asked, leaning back in the chair.

Then he smiled. It wasn't a kind smile. It was the same smile he used in boardrooms when someone asked for a discount he wouldn't give. "You want me to perform a rejection for you. That's a lot of drama for a girl I met twice."

"It's not drama," Mehrish countered. "It's closure. For both of us."

"There is no us," He declared. "So there's nothing to close. I'll handle things my way."

Mehrish exhaled through her nose. "Your way is silence"

He finally took a sip of coffee. It was too hot. He didn't react. "You want a clear no? You have it. I'm not marrying you. That's honest."

"Honest would be saying it to her face," Mehrish insisted. She stood up.
The couple at table five looked up. "But you won't. Because it's easier to let me be the bad guy."

"Mehrish," He called out. He stood too but didn't follow. "Don't walk out like this. We're having a conversation."

"No," she shot back. "We're not. I asked once. You refused. I'm done requesting"

She turned and walked towards the door.

Then she stopped. She didn't turn all the way. Just her head, just enough for him to see her profile.
The whole café seemed to hold its breath.

Mehrish's voice dropped. Low.

"Suno"
(listen)

He turned his head. His eyes met hers, but stopped at the nose ring.

Mehrish delivered it once. Clear. Cold.

"Bhad me jao tum"
(you just go to hell)