Have You?

He called at an odd hour, “I’m leaving. At max a month. Just wanted to let you know.”

She knew as much as he did and you could have guessed, it was definitely lil more than ‘just letting know.’

She smiled for him. Said, what people say on such phone calls and hung up.

Sometimes, life is too long for us to handle, too fast for us to keep pace with and too slippery for us to hold on to. Sooner or later we start taking things for granted. Just like it is certainty that Sun will rise from East and will eventually settle on west, you are sure that you’ll see all these people tomorrow as well over the breakfast, in lobby, over lunch, in some meetings, at some club or on street and sometimes at railway stations and airport. Sometimes, because of sheer coincidences or because of created coincidences…

But, the whole dynamics changes when someone is to leave and leave for good. All of sudden her mind reeled back into past. There was a flashback of all the events and incidences passed between them. As the cab took familiar turns, passed regular eating joints and clubs and movie halls, she couldn’t help but think about the time that passed so fast, maybe none of them could have realised.

Knowing he was to leave, it changed the whole dynamics. Knowing that in a month’s time there will be one less familiar face around, unsettled her. But only a little bit and only for a little while. It wasn’t the first time someone was to bid farewell, it wasn’t the first time love-hate relationship was brought to peaceful end by destiny, it wasn’t the first time, her feet were glued with ego, it wasn’t the first time but something was different.

We are never sure and that is good, that keeps us human. Of all the things she was sure about one; he will leave and will leave for good. And just like a phase it all will pass and from distance long enough she will look back and smile at the past. But, she realised something, all this while, the things, the people, surroundings that she had taken for granted. Her own self which she had taken for granted and had discounted her of so many things.

From all the rave parties, late night drives, stubbed cigarettes and joints, meaningless physical encounters, cracked relations and broken hearts, she realized she had taken it all for granted. She wasn’t going to be pretty all her life long, she may not enjoy good health some years down the line, her bare mind may not be able to survive this lifestyle any longer, she realized perhaps all the things she had taken herself for granted.

He left.

He didn’t say anything. There was a smile on his face but his eyes were shrunk. She didn’t say anything either.

He said, “All right, then.” (‘I will miss you. Wish we could..” He unsaid)

“Yeah, you must be getting late. Good luck and God Bless,” she said. (“You are a nice guy. Thank you for all and I will see you when I’ll see you.” She unsaid)

White cab disappeared in the cloud of dust. When it settled down, she couldn’t see him anymore but she realized something.

Have you?

Neo