He would try for the last time.
"As if you have a choice, it IS your last chance", said a voice in Biswajit's head. True, he had loved her for four painfully long years, but had stayed with her only as friends. As happens in such cases where a friend in need turns a lover indeed, he was afraid of losing her and being rejected entirely from her life if he chose to confess his feelings.
It wasn't so that he had never really tried. He was sharp in seizing every opportunity that came his way- trying to be a bit romantic in safe limits though, so that he can easily shrug it away as 'just kidding' later if things turned wrong,which always did.
She knew being the lover-boy wasn't his type. He had once considered love-stories as myth and superstitions and smirked at the hard-in-love people in his office.
But then he too fell in love with the tomboy in his workplace-Sonam. She was considered a disgrace to the female species due to her robust muscular manners. Biswajit fell in love with this boy-err-girl, for she had all the qualities of a strong person he had always wanted in his life...forever. But perhaps her moody nature also made it impossible for him to speak out his proposals. He clearly remembered the day he had gifted her a coffee-mug, all hearts and 'I-LOVE-U' printed over it. She took it as he watched her face turn pale with surprise to red with wrath.
"H-how-",she stammered and gasped, struggling to find words avoiding eye contact.
Crap! She would hate her forever now. So, before things went too far and got messed beyond repair, he guffawed(faked it) and told that it was just a joke....and a very successful one(only he knew how terribly he had failed).
"You can keep it though",he had chuckled, quite broken.
Sonam had replied calmly that it was her choice, now that she was its owner, to kick or keep it and had left immediately, leaving him alone in the canteen in a chilled, windy evening.
Her spirits turned normal the next day and he vowed to never risk their friendship again.
Until two months ago-
when she had resigned and he got to know that her family was planning her engagement.
Her future fiancé was some big business bloke with whom she was forced into a month long vacation abroad by everyone so that the couple could know each other better, meanwhile, her parents got time for the grand wedding preparations,which they were so sure would happen soon.
And with a heavy heart, Biswajit realised that they were quite right. Her pictures on Instagram with him and status on WhatsApp already indicated a 'happily ever after' story of these two people. His jealousy reached new heights with every new picture of the two happy people. One he wanted dead and the other he wanted to die with.
She had returned a week ago and had agreed over coffee with Biswajit, who was determined to reveal everything finally. Today was his last chance; a week from today she would say 'yes' to that engagement with Pablo, Kabla-whatever his name is.
And added to his miseries was his promotion, which sent him to a place quite far from this city, from 'her' city. And she would be snatched away from him. And fate was trying hard to do that.
No! Can't let that happen at any cost. He thought to himself, smoking and pacing nervously outside the cafe, hoping the tobacco had killed him already. Cancer couldn't be as bad as a heartbreak.
His phone vibrated. Sonam's text-
Can't meet today. Anything you wanted to say?
He- But,I'm leaving tomorrow.
She- You said you had to say something?
A sigh as heavy as his heart left his lips. How can he expect a positive answer from a girl who didn't even care to meet him. He typed something like congrats for your future etc. etc. and switched off his phone.
He strolled back home, crossing Sonam's garden that came on the way. Remembering how often he would drop her after office. And then, to his immense disappointment and surprise, he saw in the dustbin in the corner, placed carelessly over a huge heap of papers, was the coffee-mug he had gifted her, looking as pathetic as him. The reason of disappointment is well-known to the readers, and the reason of surprise- well,he never had expected she had it with her all this time.
Meanwhile, a slim gorgeous girl sobbed and scribbled busily in a diary inside the house, her room explained her tomboyish tastes and were filled with pictures of wrestlers and Harley-bikers, with dreadful quotes here and there. The only thing that confirmed her gender was her slender beautiful body, without a trace of imperfection, and long hair(which her mother had not allowed to be cropped short) -
25th June
I finally got rid of the coffee-mug Bisbo had given. That f*** $$%#^.
I still remember how pale I had turned at this pleasant surprise, believed at once that he, a guy who hates the stuff 'love', would fall in love with me, a girl like ME.
God, I almost fainted with the thought. But,then I decided to play some joke..acted as if I was disgusted with this gift and his actions-tough as I was blushing beyond limits. And then the truth of his terrible joke came out- like always. Why the hell is he always playing with my feelings. I felt sickeningly sad and left the place immediately. What a %&^$(*. Only this mug saw me cry my eyes out that night. And all these days, it was my only partner in my tearful sessions when I wished it was the one who had gifted me this who was in my arms instead of the gift. I tried making him jealous with my Insta pics and shitty status. Useless....why would he feel possessive or jealous when he never cared for me more than a friend whom he would just tease and laugh at with his lovey-dovey jokes.hah! &%@!(*&. He sometimes made me feel as if a girl with manly ways can't be 'wanted' in this world. Even today- he didn't ever bother to ask about the reason that I couldn't come to the cafe. He was all 'Oh, happy marriage','let your husband play the daddy role' and nonsense. Wasn't he bothered if I was sick or something? Hah,girly expectations. Not my type. At least, I have Pablo who is loyal to me. Now, I can say yes to him as there's no hope.Though He doesn't have anything which makes me fall for him. And Bisbo had it all....but Pablo loves me.
And Bisbo did not.
That *$#&^ I so badly wanted.