The Last Message

Its 2 am and Arti sleeps by 10 pm each night, she is gazing at the moon and smiling.

Her phone is open and she is reading a continuous Whatsapp message by guy name Gaurav,

The phone is silent as she is doing it if mom will know that she is still awake, she is sure will get bashing tonight.

Goodnight and a heart, Gaurav messaged

Okay……..

She wanted to tease him and keep him in shadow so she switched her phone off pulled the blanket and slept

Its 8 am and aarti is still not ready for work, her bus leaves by 8 30 am and her hair is undone and not even had breakfast, mom wails from the other room to get ready in haste or else she will have to board a rickshaw by herself 

Mollifying ma she said she will choose the dress,

There is a white top, purple, green and more.

Which one he will like, she questions herself 

She reads an incoming message on the phone screen good morning and a heart

Her hair dripping with water droplets, and mom standing on the doorway which is ajar

She hides her phone,

Ami hocche ready- she explains in Bengali 

Ma demurs and goes back to the kitchen 

Without eating the breakfast she leaves and boards the bus in real haste

And reads the message now with complete attention,

Good morning love, I am not well I will be home today,

She taps the angry emoji but takes it back and writes take care,

The hubbub of the traffic and employee chattering on the bus makes her want to go home,

But its Friday, she summons courage by thinking good things- opens the wats app window and sees him offline

So by sheer force and concern for him- leaving aside her rage

What happened to you? She types calming down 

No reply…

She dabs the phone on her ear and calls him

Its switch off...

Aarti has no patience left- she calls after an hour reaching work but still off.

Her heart pounds whether he is cheating on her- unable to focus on work, aarti somehow completes 9 hours and calls him and he receives in the second ring 

His voice is heavy-

I want to say something to you, he stammers but still persistent

I can’t do this anymore

She heard him but unable to register his words, and with her lips unable to stop shaking

Why what did I do? 

There is a brief pause and then continues please meet me at my place, he placates 

Okay and she disconnects the call.

Let’s go to the movie, her friend holding her hand with excitement,

Aarti looks at her and leaves the office without punching out from the biometrics

Rushing outside she boards the rickshaw and reminisce all the places they have been together- the auto comes to a screeching halt.

She plods towards his house, rings the doorbell and holds herself with the rush of negative feelings which is about to feel-

The door makes a creaking sound

The huge clamor of voices, friends hugging her, and a piece of loud music in the background

It was their 5th year anniversary

In a state of confusion, her eye searched for him all over the packed room, and he was at the end of the room holding flowers and a ring.

She hugged him.