The End.


“Don’t be too late”, his texting app pinged again.
“I know babe, I know you hate people being late.. I won't be”, he replied back and locked his phone. Kicking his bike’s ignition, the engine revved up to life.
Driving towards that cafe wasn’t making him happy today. He wished the road never ended towards that 10 minutes bike ride. Driving in just 40km/hr felt like going in about a 100 today. He hoped for a heavy traffic even though he didn’t want her to keep waiting. His heart was overpowering his mind today.

Parking his bike on the side of the road he walked inside with a heavy heart and even heavier footsteps. There she was; sitting on that chair besides the tinted glass. The evening hue falling on her face had lit up her dark brown eyes. He wished he carried his camera, so that he could frame the warm light falling on her face forever. He looked for her glasses; the ones she always wore. Broad, brown frames that nearly covered her whole face. They were kept neatly aside in the table. She always removed them when she was indoors. “Weird habit”, he had always thought initially. But now he knew, after 2years. She probably hadn’t noticed him or had chosen not to, until he pulled up the chair across her. “typical”, he thought. She always ignored him and acted  pleasantly surprised when he used to come and sit beside her. Today he chose to sit across her.

“Sorry, got late”, he started. “Just 10 minutes babe, it’s okay and you know that”, she replied. She was always modest like that. But today she really was okay. “I have ordered a pasta and a latte for you.. Okay?” she informed. He didn’t answer, because he didn’t quite hear her. His mind was wandering. Not in the cafe, not with her, not today. 2 soft taps on his wrist brought him back. She gently touched his hand and repeated the sentence and he nodded his head slightly and smiled.

They almost kept quite this whole time listening to the soft rock music that was playing loudly inside the cafe. Though the music was soothing; his mind was in utter chaos. His peace was lost. The music was irritating; and as he stole a glance at her, his eyes were giving away.

The waiter arrived with the order and she smiled at him as he arranged the food as per her indications. Food always made her happy and that’s what he loved about her. Her gleaming eyes took away his sorrow for the time being. They talked about some unnecessary things like his new workplace, the linen blue shirt that he was wearing, the weather, et cetera. “till it delays the dreadful discussion that’s about to come”, he hoped. In the meanwhile, she had dropped her fork, lost her phone which she later realized she was actually sitting on the whole time, asked for extra napkins; as four of them were never enough for her. He adored her clumsiness. She was always on the edge. Never quite she ever sat still.

“Babe, we need to talk, now that we are done eating”, she started. His worse fear came alive with her voice. He gulped down the hot coffee burning through his throat; but he knew this was going to be a lot less painful than what was up next. He was losing his composure and keeping a straight face was getting impossible to him. Thank god for the lighting of the cafe which was letting him hide his emotions better than he himself ever could. “I knew this was coming but somehow I did not want to believe it.” He told her. “Damn, is it really happening Sara?” he questioned looking sadly into her eyes, but couldn’t see her moist eyes through his own. As he waited for her reply, she extended her folded arms and picked up her glasses to wear them. Unusual.

As the waiter interrupted and cleared the table and kept the cheque in the middle.  Just then she picked up her bag from the floor beside her and started hunting for something inside it. “No, no, no, no, no!” he screamed silently. She took out her wallet and put her share inside the book and in an instance his breath that was almost leaving his body came back to him. He looked at the bill and paid his share too. “Time to go, eh” she said with a weak smile. Yes, it was time to go. As he sighed and was about to get up, she held his hand and stopped him from standing. She kept a card on the table that mysteriously came out of nowhere and slid it towards him. His chair was sinking, and so was his heart. She got up from her place, reached near him and kissed him very gently on his on his right cheek. “I’ll leave first today” she said before wiping that light lipstick off his cheek and the tears dropping from her eyes with a failed attempt to hide them from him.  Swiftly, she stood up and leapt towards the door and vanished into the darkened evening and he was left there alone amongst the crowd; sitting and looking dreadfully at that card she had left for him. He didn't have the courage to pick it up. He knew, the end was now near.

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