Break Up Date

Are you there?” She asked.

“Always.” Came the reply.

Shreya glanced at her watch. Half past six. She thought to herself “Amit is never late; he tends to be in a good ten minutes before the appointment.”

“Ma’am – your order?”

“Give me 10 mins.”

“Sure ma’am.”

She called his mobile. Nobody answered the call.

“Sorry I am late, got delayed in traffic!”

Shreya smiled. Any other time, a delay of more than 15 minutes would have caused her to get hysterical. But this time she wore a calm demeanour. “So, what do we call this, a breakup date?”

Amit looked straight into her eyes. “You know, the spark that lights up two hearts has enough energy to power it through a life-time. You may not choose to meet me, but the glow will always remain.”

“I am not here to listen to your story, this is real life, like here and now. Grow up and understand that we do not live in a fantasy world.”

“Well, life is a like a rainbow along with the fresh scent of the parched earth getting its first shower.”

“What about the sweltering heat and the biting cold, you cannot be in love with the monsoon eternally.”

“Seasons change, people do not, at least they are not supposed to.”

“Can we get to the point?”

“Which is…?”

“I think we should part ways with a smile. A smile that remains the calm glow in all out future endeavours.”

“Can I say something Shreya?”

“You do not need permission Amit!”

“Falling in love is beautiful. It is magical. The shades of melancholy get overwhelmed by the comforting waves of mirth. You do not seek perfection in a person. All you know is that the fabric of love gets woven by the colours of happiness. You fall in love for what the person is. You have your share of occasional fights. The real test of resilience of love is when a storm hits. Pure love is unfettered by the most ferocious of storms.”

“Some storms are manmade then, isn’t it?”

“Well, everyone has flaws. And strengths. However, when you do fall for someone, you do for both the strengths and flaws. You accept the flaws, some of which reveal themselves as the layers of love start to peel off.”

“So, love has layers then?”

“Ma’am your iced tea and sir your cappuccino.”

“Thank you!” They quipped together in unison.

“Well ultimately, we are all human, prone to making mistakes, consciously or unconsciously. When you place someone on a high pedestal and they do not live up to your expectations, it is you who gets hurt.”

“I was already hurt before I found love, I did not expect to be hurt once again”

“Love is the pain, love is the cure, love is the darkness, love is the light.”

“I did not believe in true love earlier and I will not believe in it from tomorrow.”

Amit had a sip of his cappuccino.

“When you try to let go, you feel lighter. The burden of questioning the authenticity of love gives way to the hope of love being the cure.”

“I don’t need a doctor; I don’t need empathy.”

“Love is a dormant volcano, and when the eyes meet, the flames are lit again, and the dance of the waves begin.”

“You can charm a dozen women with your words. This is poetry in motion, but you know what, I am done with this flowery language. Maybe you need to try it on someone new.”

Amit finished the last gulp of his coffee.

“A journey is not about seeing new places, it is about seeing the same places with a new pair of eyes, a fresh perspective, a new coat of paint.”

“I thought I was the painter.”

“You have already painted my life and no other brush stroke will ever make a design on this canvas.”

Shreya looked at her watch, half past seven.

“Listen Amit, when you write your next book send me a text, if I get the time, I will read it. I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.”

Amit swallowed, trying hard to control his tears.

“I booked a pool cab.”

“Me too!”

“Bye!”

“Good luck!”

He wrote a text to Shreya before calling it a night.

“If you think this man with a pure heart needs to be given another chance, consider a probation period of three months, post which it is your choice!”

After writing in this text he deleted her number, and went to bed, with a dim expectation and a tad higher hope.

Next morning was a Sunday, it was a usual lazy day.

He looked at his WhatsApp messenger, there was a message from an unknown number.

“Shut up and meet me for lunch at 1 PM.”