A Confession And A Dismissal

BETWEEN THEM
Part 53

He started early..... Now all that he needed was to go meet her....

If only it was all this simple...

He was scared... For the first time in his life, Krish Shanker was scared of the consequences of his decisions... however impulsive they were....

He was driving into Benson Town... Near her apartments.... He parked by the corner.... And walked down to her flats...

His pace slowed as he reached the gates... And walked through them.... Up to her floor....

He knocked the heavy brass knocker.... hoping she would not hear... he did not try the door bell...

The door opened and she stood there... hair disheveled... an apron dangling loose around her neck...

"Shriya... Hi"

She just opened the door wider and let him walk in... She walked off into the kitchen...

He was already nervous.... He followed her in... And left the front door open...

It somehow seemed stupid to try to close it after him.... He paused by the kitchen entrance and cast a glance at the room beside it.... The photo frame was not there....

She was rolling out chapathis... he watched her work hard at it....

"I never manage to get them a perfect round"

"What! Oh.... "

"Anyways... Practice makes perfect?"

"Hmm..."

It was getting stupid.... Why was she not lashing out at him? Did she not know yet? Was he screwing up things again?

"You met Rajeev yesterday?"

Atlast....

"Yes"

"Where?"

"Here"

"Here?.... When"

"I came over to meet you and then saw him outside.... You weren't home then... He was waiting too"

"So.... You told him that we were going to get engaged?"

Was it going to be this simple? He breathed out.....

"Yes... I mean...," he stopped.... What was he going to say?

"Yes... What do you mean?"

"Shriya... Look... He told me that he was going to ...."

"Going to marry me?" She was still at the rotis, concentration on her face.....

"No... Well... "

She looked up at him and stopped her work....

"Go on, Krish"

He caught his breath... There was something different about her now... Something that exuded anger....

"Might marry you"

"And you told him that it was stupid because we were going to marry each other right? Hell!"

It would have hurt him less had she shouted at him... Called him names...

It came out too slow and in a quiveringly low pitch....

It was just then that he understood that she was just like him when it came to anger... Low, well versed sarcasm... that could spew venom....

It was going to be tough.... Maybe time to tackle it straight....

"I just don't realize how you agreed to marry that jerk," It was a mock... Meant to accuse her....

"He isn't a jerk... He is one of the most successful young lawyers here... And in case you don't know... he was in love with me"

It hurt....

"I did not know that until today... Did not even know that they had planned it all... I wasn't told a word... They meant it to be a surprise"

His snigger faded... It had backfired.....

"And well now that you know it all... Just go ahead and marry him...."

"After the drama you staged? What will I tell anyone now"

"Tell them I was joking"

"What are you going to tell me Krish?"

"I was joking"

"What a smashing sense of humor"

"Yea I know"

"No you don't....... You just don't understand what you landed me into... They all are going to be waiting... "

"Waiting? For what? For you to marry that jerk?"

"No .... Waiting for an engagement that will never happen.... Waiting to look at someone who will never be there.... Waiting and watching"

He was quiet....

"Tell them that you are not ready yet"

"Why the hell should I tell them lies?"

"Look I am sorry"

"So much to get this out of you.... Know what... You are the jerk... Not him"

Maybe it was anger that rendered him speechless...

"Just two days back you asked me to get lost... Give me a chance... I will.... "

"Meaning?"

"I will get lost Krish... Just as you wanted..... Out of this place... This rat hole of a city.... Jerks like you"

"Shriya...."

"No... Don't say a word.... I have had enough... More than that"

"Shriya you have a job here... a career"

"No more... I resigned today"

"What!?"

She calmed... out of sheer frustration....

"I wanted to come over and search for you and yell at you... Just get the anger out of my system... But I decided something Krish.... I don't want to tell you this.... But I have to say it out now... Get out if you do not want to hear it"

He was quiet... rooted....

"I have had enough... Strange place... Damn lonely... Hateful days and nights... And now they think that they can get me alliances... Crap... Am not someone who is hunting out guys... I... I have just liked one person throughout... And...."

She coughed... And continued....

"It has been you... For ever till now...."

He knew it was coming... He knew he should move over and hold her.... Just to tell her it was the same with him....

She sat down at one of the metal chairs nearby.... And spoke silently...

"I just realized am nothing to you Krish"

"No Shriya.... You got it all...."

"Wrong?.... I know... Maybe I am someone whom you can play around with... A forgotten old classmate..."

He was quiet...

"And maybe someday you will invite me over to your marriage with her... Preetha or whatever... and being the good old silly soul that I am, I will come over and wish you... over my silent tears"

"Preetha? And Me....?... What crap"

"Whoever... Preetha...Rithi.... I don't care"

"You got it all wrong...."

"Yes.... I got everything wrong.... Now just let me do the right things then"

"Shriya... Listen...."

"Let me go"

"Shriya...."

"Get out Krish...."

It was one of those moments when there could be nothing done with reasoning... without solid proofs....

He tried... A last time...

"Shriya... Please... Let me say what I want....."

"Out, Krish... Get out of this place...."

He walked out... As he crossed the hall to get to the door, he saw the empty photo frame on the couch... The photo was nowhere to be seen....

She locked the door behind him... And collapsed on the couch... It was then that she started crying....