Reminiscences (standard:mystery, 1588 words)
Author: Raj	Added: Jul 18 2004	Views/Reads: 3494/2261	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This is a purely imaginary story with no resemblance to any incident or personnel. The readers may determine the type of story I have written

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down. “Now take it easy and don't blame yourself. How can you dwell on 
your teenage sentiments even now? Where are you going?” He changed the 
topic. “I saw you crossing the bridge and I could not help following 
you. I wanted to talk to you. I am so sorry. I just cannot live without 
you. I have tried to forget those days, but simply I cannot.” “Shall I 
take you home? You seem to be feeling cold.” She seemed to nod. “I live 
near here; we'll have a cup of tea first. Then I will reach you. Let's 
go.” A flicker of hope almost extinguished a while ago, sprang in her 
with a twinkle in her eyes. She followed him silently as if in a dream. 
There, right in front of her was someone she adored, though she herself 
had torn away from him without realizing. Her family pressures had been 
a factor. The two souls walked on silently as if all there was to talk 
had been done half a decade ago: they had remained friendly even after 
the break off while in the college. No sound save the reverberating 
footfalls as they walked on in the dim light over pebbles scattered 
along the side of the lane. He then turned in between two buildings, 
climbed a flight of wooden stairs and knocked on a door overlooking 
another street behind and above. A pregnant woman in plain clothes 
stood at the doorway- a hollow look on her pretty face. “Dechen, meet 
my wife, Muna, “ he said turning to her. “And this is Dechen, my 
college friend five years ago” “Very charmed to meet you Mu.... madam,” 
she whimpered in a hollow quivering voice. She had turned paler and 
looked away to hide her emotions. “Do come in, please. It's very chilly 
outside.” Muna went to the living room to put the lights on. “Let's go 
in, Dechen, and relax for a while. You look weary.” “Thank you, I'm 
kinda feeling ill, I'll go in a while.” “Why, what happened?” Jiwan 
looked at her face that registered a shock. She was fidgeting, wringing 
her fingers. She seemed to be thinking feverishly for a solution. She 
looked up. Jiwan was on the doorway and admiring the dragon painted on 
a red silk, which Muna had done it herself and hung on the wall. “Oops! 
My hankie dropped. Will just fetch it.” Dechen was looking over the 
handrails. A moment passed and when Jiwan heard the hurrying steps. He 
spun from the doorway reaching the top of the stairs in one stride. 
What he saw shocked him. She was at the gate breaking into a run. 
“Dechen, where are you going? Come back please, come back, I say,” he 
shouted. Without looking back, she ran frantically. He dashed after 
her. He saw her disappear in to an alley across the street. He glanced 
towards Muna on the veranda and she was looking aghast. He then crossed 
the street and into the alley but Dechen had vanished among the rows of 
crowded houses. He peered into the semi-darkness. He wished he had a 
torch, cursed himself, heaved a sigh of disgust and sat on a concrete 
parapet, staring - trying to register any echoing footfalls in the 
darkness. As he sat there, he remembered her words five years ago. 
“Jiwan, I'm in a dilemma. We've so much in life- so much to do. I don't 
think romance fits in with all I want to do with myself - not quite 
right now. Please try to understand. This is just the sunrise of our 
lives. I do love you but love seems to be out of place in my scheme of 
things. I am not ready yet to make the sacrifice it would require. 
Let's wait a year or so. Perhaps we'll understand ourselves better 
then.” He had not said anything. He simply could not comprehend her 
change. He continued his studies in college while she had gone to India 
for her degree. She had turned her back leaving him deeply wounded. 

A dog barked in the distance breaking his chain of thoughts. He got up,
kicked a pebble into the drain that stared at him. The place was 
utterly deserted. He felt very funny - like a fool - wanted to laugh 
aloud. “Poor girl!” he said aloud and hurried home. 

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