Where were you Ananya?
She walked passed the corridor and placed her suitcase looking at the small temple where a diya lit like her unwavering faith. As she left the house keys on the key stand above the shoe rack he came out of the study his bluetooth on his ear.
“Where are you going?” he questioned with a gesture.
She turned to face the door.
“Ananya” he excused himself from the call. “Where were you?” he surprised himself with what he just asked.
Ananya turned to her love and with with a tight smile spoke
“I?”
She looked at him for a minute the longest in the last she remembered seeing him.
“I was here Rohan. Lying somewhere in your life.” She paused.
“I was right here stacked among host of messages on your Whatsapp. I also stood in between the tight deadlines over months. Didn’t you notice me in the several voicemails.” her eyes brimmed as she spoke slowly and softly.
“I was that fleeting thought that would have passed as you busily worked on your submission. Didn’t you see me Rohan? I was trying to share a smile when you commuted after work to go to an important dinner. I waived at you over an occupied Saturday movie and a Sunday photography session. I was that struggle that got tossed between work and hobby. Colleagues and friends. I was that time between a work week and a deserved unwind. I was right there just out of your sight.” she spoke without a tinge of sarcasm.
“Oh is it?” her pain barely reached him, “So where was I Ananya?”
“You jaan?” Ananya swallowed a lump and spoke.
“You were the page I turned as I read a book. You were the blanket I cuddled on cold mornings alone in bed. You were the half filled tea cup I spoke to for hours sharing my petty gossips. You were the smile that faded when I heard our favourite song. You were the phone call that I never missed to make during lunch. You were there in my questions, in my feelings and in every emotion.”
The rage, the anger melted in seconds. That was Rohan’s heart. A silent tear rushed passed Rohan’s warm cheek as he took small steps towards his first love.
“Ani, I am sorry. Can we not work on this.” he gently held Ananya.
“Rohan.” she placed her palm on his rough beard. “We haven’t lost it all. I am still Ani for you.”
She could bear any storm but not a tear in his eyes. He embraced her in his arms as she rose to her toes giving it all once again. May be the times had changed but the solace the hug brought hadn’t.
“Miss you Rohan” She hugged tighter digging her face in his chest.
