It was the cold winter night , the same day, just one year later. The coffee shop was almost empty .
Akash: How far did you come out from that?
Trisha: I have come a long way off, and would be glad if you came out too.
Akash: Is it for the same reason you came here to meet me. I just sent one text. You could have ignored.
Trisha: You were my good friend . I cant be so mean to you.
Akash: 'Were'!!!
Trisha: Its a long way now Akash. We need to get over it now. I am leaving tomorrow.
Akash: Yes, I know, and maybe that's why I have come to make it all official.
Trisha: There is really no need. We aren't married . Anyway tell me something about you. I wonder what you have been doing since one year. Any girl friend?
Akash: Mmmm.... Yes Nisha, her name is Nisha. She's a nice girl. She teaches English in St Xavier's college.
Trisha: You have always been so fond of English teachers(mockingly laughs).
Akash: Yeah(smiles), you remember our English teacher , in that blue sari, and me , lost in that reverie dreaming the whole time.
Trisha: How could I forget that, and your poems. Hey, do you write them any more?
Akash: I don't feel like anymore, they left me long time back.
Trisha: And how long is it? One year?
Akash: (Smiles )
Trisha: Akash, you are a nice guy. I am sure Nisha is a perfect girl for you, though I don't know her , yet I cant doubt your choice. I wish you both a happy life....
Akash: Ok ok , no more of it. Dont talk like formal people. We knew each other since class one.
Trisha: Yes. I still remember. " Stand up on the bench and hold your ears". Everyday in the social study period.
Akash: And once you told me to come to girls toilet because you were afraid to go alone. That was crude.
Trisha: (Bursts with laughter) I was only in class 1.
Akash: And remember what we did when we were in the eleventh standard.
Trisha: Yeah. I felt so ashamed after all that, we both were so young.
Akash: Those days were meant for us.
Trisha: And nights were meant for whatsapp.
Akash: Haha! those were days , truly, I still miss them.
Trisha: I truly hope to meet Nisha one day. But I guess it will be too late. I need to go back to Canada.
Akash: Any lucky guy in your life.
Trisha: Lucky? Haha! Not really . After I left........ ( she held her tongue and remained silent)
Akash: After you left me. Why dont you say it?
Trisha:I'm sorry. I brought up the matter which should not be talked about. It was just a slip of tongue.
Akash: And yet its true.
Trisha: ( Remains silent and looks down at her empty cup.) Now, did you call me up to ask me about all this?
Akash: Calm down Trisha. I have never asked you , not even once. I still remember that night , exactly one year before, when we laid together in one bed for the first time. That was the best night I can ever recall, and perhaps followed by a disappointing morning. You left me. No letters, no phone calls, even you changed your number. I searched you from door to door , but your friends were loyal to you, they never told me about your whereabouts. I searched you like a mad man , roaming day and night from the police station to the traffic signal with your photograph in my hand until you confirmed with that one phone call that you will never return back.
(She sat down and remained silent. Tears spoke out the mute words.)
Akash: And what makes you return to Kolkata?
Trisha: (Looked at him in despair) Time is running out Akash, I must go.
Akash: And yet you must not. ( Holds her hand and makes her sit).
I Might not be that valuable and precious to be your journey for the "short time" . But I want to know , why did you come back?
Trisha: Because of you idiot. Look at yourself. What condition have you made in one year. Am I so valuable and precious that you need to waste an entire life on me? I have come a long way off and don't have much time, if only you stop searching for me that is why I came here. ( Breaks down)
Akash: No more Trisha. When I came to know , I was shocked, not because you kept me back from knowing the truth. I couldn't believe that the girl, the only girl I loved, the only girl I placed the whole trust on, didn't even have the slightest confidence on me.
Trisha: Akash, we met against odds. I cant bear to tell you anymore.
Akash: No need of that Trisha, I never believed that you didn't trust me and moreover that I would be able to love anyone more than you. I have already advanced in my path. Wish you all the best for your journey.
Trisha: I am glad you did. If only I could meet her once. But anyway, are you still that same person giving big lectures against the side-effects of marriage.
Akash: Haha! Yeah, you know how I hate marriage.
Trisha: You plan to do the same once more.
Akash: There's nothing wrong in that. Is there?
Their eyes met against the dark night, and no sooner the lips made their own way.
Akash: When are you leaving ?
Trisha: Tomorrow, 6 a.m.
Hugs her tight thinking it to be for the last time.
Akash: Goodnight Trisha.
Trisha: Goodnight Akash.
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1 week before
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Akash: Hey Shalini, I have been searching for your number for days. How are you?
Shalini: I'm sure your eagerness is somewhere else than me. Akash, leave it , its over.
Akash: Look Shalini, I don't know what Trisha has told you about us, and I really don't care. But I want to know the truth. Its almost a year now and I still cant believe what happened was true. I'm sure she had a reason and I know you know it. Please , I request you please tell me.
Shalini: Akash, remain calm and listen to what I say. Trisha has been suffering from leukemia since the past two years. It was really hard for her to hide the truth any further. She never meant anything , but she had a great fear of death as you know. She wanted to cut down all her attachments from the world. As you know her parents died when she was just a child. And her aunt, her only mentor passed away three years before. Her only attachment to this world is you Akash. Free her of yourself, I know it would be rather difficult for you but it will only make things easy for her. Hello! Akash are you there....................
The phone drops to the floor. There he stood in dumbstruck silence with a bleeding heart and choking mind.
"I'll free her"
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Present night in her hotel apartment
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Trisha: ( Talks to herself): Do you feel that I am so stupid Mr. Akash. I did read each and every lie from you wet eyes. You have always been a poor liar. You could have thought of any other name . Why Nisha? Its just rhymes with mine. Any other name would have given me the same answer Akash. Anyway, I did my job, wherever I might go, I'll always pray that you can forget everything and advance in your life. I want all the lies you told me to come true in future.
(The tear drops fell on that photograph, perhaps her last pillar to hold on to).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next morning , inside the flight leaving for London
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Announcement
"The flight for London would be taking off in a few minutes. Passengers are requested to wear their seat belts "
She looked out of the window for one last time. She never knew what she was expecting, or whom she was expecting. The flight would take off soon and it would all be over .
"Excuse me madam. You didn't wear your seat belt."
"Oh! I am so sorry . I.................................."
No. It was not any air hostess. It was the same voice, the same eye, the same man sitting next to her.
" Akash, what the.........., how on earth did you get here. I told you I was going to Canada, I......................"
"Sssshhhhhhhhhhhh............................"
His fingers moulded her lips.
Akash:" I never knew I would turn up like this until my morning came and told me what I should do"
Trisha:"And what did it say? Did it tell you that I was not flying to Canada. You are a..........
Strikes him and both of them broke into laughter.
Akash: I am sorry Trisha. I am a selfish person. I cant let you free this way. I must be your partner in this world tour.
Trisha: Have anybody ever told you that you are a poor actor?
Akash: Haha! I knew I would get caught soon.
Trisha: And that story of Nisha ........ ( she burst into peals of laughter)
Akash: Can you do me one favour Trisha?
Trisha: What is it now?
Akash: Can you love me once more?
Silent hearts didn't speak for a long time. They both preferred a mute conversation to an incomplete one
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The flight to London has taken off. Wish them luck so that they can find their destinies through this journey. Remember this is not the end of a story, its just the beginning. They both have started together for an unknown land where the grace of life meets the soul and hearts reunite beyond horizons...................