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ARJUN

Is it possible to feel both happy and devastated at the same time? The thought of Abhimanyu coming home fills me with happiness. But his insecurities and doubts break my heart. How I wish I could show him what he has come to mean to me in such a short while! It has only been few days since we met, but I already think of him as mine.

I open the door for Kiddo and we step inside the restaurant. It is a regular hangout for us. Both of our families used to dine here very often. The number of times I have held her hand and ushered her in! I look at her, walking gravely by my side, her curly hair all over her face and I smile. How soon the years flew by!

We head to our regular table at the end from where we can see the road beside.

“What would you like? I am going for a paratha-combo. I am ravenously hungry.” I pass on the menu to Kiddo. She silently peruses and closes it. “I will also have the same.”

I place the order with the server. Kiddo smiles at me. “I already love Abhimanyu. How is that possible?”

I shake my head in wonder. “Right? I keep asking myself but I cannot explain it. That kid has wrapped me by his little finger.”

Kiddo looks at me with a strange expression on her face. If I could name it, it would be wistfulness combined with some sadness. “You are going to be one heck of a dad.”

I tilt my face at her. She avoids my gaze.

“What is really bothering you, Kiddo? You do not seem to be your usual exuberant self now-a-days. You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

She nods but still doesn’t look me in the eyes.

I clear my throat. “Is it boyfriend-trouble? Do I need to bash someone up?” I ask, trying to make light of the matter.

She looks at me and instead of the smile I had expected, her eyes fill up.

“Don’t, Kiddo. You know I cannot watch you cry.” I steel my voice. If there is something that can be called as my weakness, it is her tears. I have never been able to stand them.

I hand over some tissues to her. She wipes her eyes and I watch in silent despair.

She inhales deeply and says in a low voice. “I love someone who doesn’t love me back. It is painful.”

Her words pierce my heart. “Is there any way it will work out in your favour?” I ask her gently. Her eyes well up again and I look outside the glass door. Anything but the pain in her eyes.

She simply shakes her head. I reach out and take her hands in mine. “Then do not pine anymore for him. Take your time to heal but move on. Promise me you will move on.” I shake her hands for effect.

She lets a sob overtake her but nods her head. I watch silently as she wipes her eyes yet again and drinks water.

“I will just freshen myself up.” She says and leaves the table. I sit staring outside the glass door. The world outside is moving on smoothly. People are returning home from work, shops are closing and traffic is easing on the road. It should have been a peaceful evening. But my Kiddo is suffering from heartbreak. Nothing is right with the world at this point of time.

She comes to the table at the same time that our dinner is served. She looks a lot more composed now and smiles at me. That smile is even more painful to watch than her tears. I take a deep breath to calm my own agitated mind and smile back at her.

“Hey… at what time will you be going to the orphanage tomorrow?” She asks me.

“About the same time as today. Care to join me?” I ask her.

She smiles but shakes her head. “On the way, can you just drop by my office? I will buy some colouring sets for the kids and hand them over to the security-guard. Will you please collect from him and distribute the sets at the orphanage?”

I nod at her in confusion. “Why the security-guard? You will be there in office, right?”

She clears her throat. “Yes I will be there but I have a meeting with the team and I do not know when I will be free.”

I nod and eat my dinner, casting curious glances at her. She doesn’t look at me and keeps eating. Why do I feel like she just lied to me? 

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