One Shot

Waqt Zaya

@WaqtZaya

" Yes, Mehra, please arrange it by 8, I will be soon there. Yes. Make it fast. And yes I'll pick you on the way. Please do mail me the brochures and stats meanwhile. Hmmm. . R.I.G.H.T N.O.W. Mehra.' 

You yell at your pa attorney  in an extremely agitated voice, flaring away your nostrils to their glorious self. I eye at you, hoping against, what might have had transpired suddenly between.You shut your eyes for a brief moment and then turn at me with those apologetic eyes of yours. Death of me, they are going to be one day.

They are darn pretty, infact the prettiest that I have ever seen, you know? But at the same time those eyes are strong enough to crush my little fluttering heart into thousands of granules, which had just hoped for a few moments of us being left "un-interrupted', meaning dinner, that even after so many days, months to be precise. 

" So. . I suppose dinner has to be . . . cancelled?' I sigh dejectedly, looking at your shoes which were shining brighter than the stars up in the dusky evening. They always do, have I ever told you? 

I see your Adam's apple throbbing as you lightly nod your head, trying your best not to break the already shattered wishes which I had planned for US, tonight.

" It's O-K-A-Y. Mr Bajaj.' I softly break, spelling into your confession while I motion you towards that AUDI of yours.

" I-I am so sorry.' That is all you say " . . . Please Prerna. I too DID wait for tonight.' That is all you can possibly manage to say, in a small voice, while you hold the door of the car, out for me. Chivalry, that runs deep in your veins.

Mr Good for Nothing Chivalrous Chauffeur  utters my inner voice instantly." It's fine Mr Bajaj! Its not the first time your Work plans are ruining OUR plans.' I let my voice raise a tone higher. " Work is Work. It ALWAYS COMES FIRST. And so does H.E.A.L.T.H.' I angrily mimic your voice. 

I rant with my hands up in the air as high as possible, trying not to spill the frustrated tears out which started to brim my eyes, while you secure my seat belt to its lock firmly. Worst of all, all you seemed to be concerned with was my seat belt rather than making up to me.

" Mrs Bajaj, if I don't turn up today, PreRish Infragiant is going to face some bad reputation especially as a new company, to make a deal with even though its sister company of Bajaj Infragiant. The whole thing will have a very bad and will have a negative impact as a new company that it is, if I don't make it up on time. Already I should be thankful enough to the Japanese clients for - - -''

"I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.' I shut my hands over my ears as I yell at you. You stop midway, and your face falls a bit down. You take a deep breath and close the door softly. And in no seconds you are at your seat behind the wheel, igniting the engine to its life. The car reverses while my thoughts reverse back to the incidents of the whole month. 

This was the GOD-KNOWS-WHICH-TIME-AND-AGAIN your work pressure, especially when you started this whole new company under my name with the objective of having me get a taste of business; which I forcefully renamed to OURS, PreRish Infragiant; and that very stupid company of yours, okay ours, denied us from having a proper meal together! Past a month you had stopped coming home on time just cause of the calls from different delegates or an urgent meeting or a deal being finalized. What's anyway the use of all the money and fame when we can't even sit and share a meal together PEACEFULLY? Let alone some time to US? What was the even point of PreRish Infragiant at the first place?

Your car halts with a jerk in a known locality. I spot a pensive Mr Mehra near your window, his hands gathering up the files. You gesture him to be in.

" GREAT ! NOW Mr Mehra- -Why didn't you bring your kids too? It's long that I have been with them'. I remark sarcastically. You eye me a glare as i turn my face away.

" Sir i need to discuss the stats and details with you once!' Mr Mehra apologetically whispers to you before he could answer me.

. You nervously exchange a look between me and him but before you can say anything I push the door out and slam it hard behind me. The sudden loud noise from the door startles you. Mr Mehra apologetically looks at you but you recover quickly and motion him to take the seat. I slam the door hard again as I make myself comfortable at the back. PREFECT. JUST PERFECT. What could get worse than this? My ' whatever ' little moment I had got to be with you was brutally snatched away by your beloved attorney! You should have married that man and not me! My frustration, my anger, my agitation, my pain sees a new soar. I roll the glass down as you ignite the engine back to life while Mr Mehra starts with his discussions. 

Trying not to think of any more disappointments, I focus on the road outside. It was dimly lit, the city slowly coming back to life of the evening. Soon the evening breeze messes my hair up and i struggle against it. In a fraction of a second my eyes catches the rear mirror of yours. They catch you smiling your patent crooked half smile while looking at my reflection. I turn my gaze away in context for my phone inside my purse. A small smile creeps onto my lips as i feel my cheeks slowly burning up with a bright red blush. 

Your one crooked half smile still makes me forget everything, my frustration, my tears, my pain, my sadness, my anger , and even my whole existence, even after a decade of our union. Feigning a stoic expression which I learnt only from you, pasted on my face, I slowly turn back to face the window. With the corner of my eye, I again find you smiling, this time a full one which flashes your deadly dimples deep, at my reflection. I narrow my eyes and motion you to focus on the road. You treat me with a wink and drive ahead. 

Like they say, sometimes even a small moment of togetherness means much more than an entire lifetime spent with your loved one. Maybe we couldn't make time out for each other, you were simply burdened with work and expected me to be more civil but I was my usual dramatic self. Maybe the meals and evenings and afternoons being spent together had increased on the lesser side of the scale. And i missed you terribly. But one thing remained constant, that was your love for me. And the best part was, We both know our love was strong enough to withstand all the storms that can possibly come our way.

X

WaqtZaya2019-11-27 16:16:19