Dating : PROMISE

The sky was dusky, rain was pouring, wind was cold. I was standing at the airport, holding my suitcase and phone. I checked time, then notification and put the cell back in my pocket. I raised my eyes, to find out that the cab had arrived.

Slowly, I pulled the suitcase towards the cab. Driver helped me load it in the compartment. We got in the car, I gave him otp and my last ride for the day began. “Stop by a store”, I uttered sluggishly.

It had started raining heavily. I was on the backseat leaning towards the window. Cold drops were running down the glass, forming fog on the inside. Light from the streets formed spectrum on the glass and horns with the pattering of the rain drops formed a symphony in the background. I dozed off.

Tension from the atmosphere of the presentation rooms, lights reflecting from the glistening faces, stern looks of determined eyes, and smell of formal and decisive air was still ruling over my mind. Exhaustion from the trip, presentations and meetings had completely wore me down.

I had been assigned to cut a deal on behalf of my firm with a new client. It was an important assignment for my firm as well as my career. I was supposed to return three days ago to someone, eagerly waiting for me at home, but due to some technical errors and laxity in the management, there was an fault in the design passed. In order to get the deal done, we had to improvise and the trip extended.

Hence, I was returning to her today, with a broken promise and a worn out me. Anyways, it was not the first time, that I broke a promise or let her down. Whenever it was about career, I always disappointed her, and emphasized work.

But however, I never took her for granted. I celebrated all my achievements only with her, and did all the special things that I could think of, to compensate for the pains, disappointments and loneliness I bestowed on her. However, I knew that none of them were ever enough for the sacrifices she used to make. Yet I tried my best to appreciate her, acknowledge her and show my gratitude for her empathy and support.

But today, it was our anniversary day. I had never even imagined of ruining this one special thing that was left in her life, our life, till date. I clearly remembered how her expression changed when I said that I would be gone for a week. She didn’t say much but I sensed her fear. I promised that I would be back in no time and then we would celebrate to our heart’s content. Still she wasn’t convinced, but pulled on a half-hearted smile.

Anyways, none of it mattered now. The die had been cast, damage had been done and there I was on my way to the store to make arrangements for the compensation. I was so exhausted that I didn’t even know if I could pull it off, but there was no other option. How much wrong could a man be?

Honk! Honk!

I was startled by the sound of horn. There were vehicles moving, people walking, trolleys clanging. We had arrived at the store. I pulled myself up. Driver was honking for people and vehicles to make way. He parked in the parking lot. I dragged myself into the store, took a trolley, picked presents, wine, chocolates and everything that crossed my mind or my hands crossed over, that might be required for celebration. I even took some of them in extras until my trolley got full and didn’t even care to look for prices. In fact, I was too tired to care for anything. I paid the bill through my card, they adjusted everything in a bag. Somehow, I dragged it to the car.

I was back in the comfort of the car’s seat, leaning back more than earlier. The bag was lying beside me. The journey resumed, and I started strategising how to pull it off with energy, without letting exhaustion take over and ruin everything. As we moved ahead, my eyes closed slowly and I fell asleep.

The vehicle slowed. We had reached home. I got out, pulled the bag. Driver unloaded the suitcase. I had already paid him online. I started moving towards my house. I opened the main gate and as I passed through the lawn, the familiar smell of wet soil, drenched leaves and grass gave me a relief. At last, I was at home. Now, I could be at peace.

But still, I moved hesitantly, as I remembered the crimes that I was guilty of. I realised how she might have been recieving all the heart felt regards and wishes alone on both her and my behalf and making excuse for my absence, all day long. And here I was, probably going to be the last person to even wish. I had really abandoned her.

I pressed the doorbell trying to be as energetic and excited as I could be. The door opened and to my surprise she stood there with a kind smile. It felt as if she had been waiting for me to ring the bell.

“Welcome home!” she said softly.

“How was your day?” she asked. I was set aback.

“Fine”, I mumbled.

All plans were for nothing. I was too surprised to make a move. She took the suitcase and bag from me, and moved towards the table. I opened my shoes with my heels and entered closing the door behind me. “That bag …”, I exclaimed gathering some strength.

“Yeah, you can have it later. Get some air first.” she replied putting the bag on the table and carried the suitcase across the hall.

I moved towards the sofa in front of the table and sat straight, fending off the weariness. I removed my socks and it was such a relief when my feet got free. She came back with a glass of water and sat beside me. I drank it, it gave such a cool and soothing sensation down my throat. Till now, I had completely forgotten about celebration and the bag.

She put her hand on my shoulder and asked, “Tired?” “Nah! Not that much..” I tried to explain, but exhaustion had taken all over me. She gently pulled my head on her lap and started caressing my hair and massaging my forehead slowly. I couldn’t resist. This was exactly what I had been longing for. I descended in her warm embrace. My eyes closed slowly.

“But I have brought some …”, I tried getting up suddenly, looking towards the bag.

“Don’t worry, I will see it later”, she said softly, pulling me back.

“We should be celebrating, today is …”, I mumbled wearily.

“Later”, she replied.

“Happy Anniversary!” I wished apologetically.

“Same to you”, she replied with a smile, running her soft fingers over the forehead to my eyelids closing them slowly.

A tear rolled down my eyes on her lap.

Bang!

A speeding lorry hit our car from the opposite lane pushing us off the road across the rails. Our car turned upside down, the bag was torn, things scattered, wine dripping from the broken bottle. The Dream had shattered. I was lying crumbled on the roof of the car with my head bleeding, broken pieces of window glass piercing, right collarbone protruding and a broken metal from the rails stabbing my stomach. I gasped for breath as the broken ribs pressed on my lungs. I could feel pain coursing through my body. I was suffocating inside the car. I tried to pull myself out of the car using my working arm clawing desperately at the wet soil and grass with all the strength that I had, but couldn’t even move an inch. My eyes were wet by blood and sweat.

Pain was fading, and slowly numbness had started overtaking. I got a blurry sight of vehicles stopping, people approaching and distant mumblings through my dimming senses. I struggled hard to hold on for a little longer. With the enclosing darkness, a bright memory flashed my mind, in which she stood with a warm air, admiring the ring on her finger which I just pushed on, with a pure and satisfied smile across her face, while I was standing on the side, looking at her stupidly, promising myself of never letting that smile fade away.

Darkness enclosed. My hand got numb and landed on the wet soil and I fell into the trench of absolute darkness and silence. And hence, for the last time I broke a PROMISE.

— by Bhanu.