7
Prose
No
V N KALA DEVI
No
The couple were sitting together at the restaurant. Sitting opposite her the man seemed very attentive and eager to please.
The with a hesitant smile “Glad you came. Thankyou. I didn’t think I could talk to you again.”
She smiled in response.
“How are you doing?” He continued.
“Good.” Was the one-word answer.
The waiter came over for the order.
“Coffee? Americano like always?” He looked at her as he enquired, sure he had got her choice right.
“No. “
“Oh yes, You must have had it with breakfast. I remember. Tea then best Darjeeling tea you have for the lady and coffee for me” he said.
As soon as they were alone, he continued “I wanted to say I am sorry. I realized how important our relationship was, after I lost it. It’s been long year. You are precious. I wanted to say this in person.” He sounded relived after having said that.
Tea arrived along with the sand flowing down the hourglass.
“Wait till the hourglass sand gets empty mam, You tea will be brewed in max of 4 minutes. You can pour your tea then”
After the waiter left he continued, “I know its selfish and presumptuous, but I would like to meet you again socially.”
“No.” Said she.
“Please, give me a second chance. I deserve that.”
“You have had your second chance year ago and now you need the second second chance?
You left me then, and now someone else’s turn ?”
“I made a mistake. I said sorry.”
In a firm clear voice she said ”I came over to tell you in this in person – I have now value myself, love myself. Its not who you chose that impacted me, but fact you had a choice and chose someone else. Now I love myself enough not walk that path again. I choose myself over you. Don’t read too much into this meeting, do not assume I am interested. So the answer is NO. Yeah, that’s the complete sentence – NO.”
Her tone never wavered, mild as always but firm. He realized something was different about her. She looked different or seemed a different person altogether.
The sand had run out in the hourglass sometime back and the tea was bitter by now– brewed too long. As she got up and gracefully walked out he kept wondering what did the word ‘sentence’ meant?