The One that got away - Part 1

Like all other days I woke up to my alarm, but instead of thanking God I was cursing my boss for yesterday's new project. As I crawled out of my bed, I realized my day has started off with the thought of the wrong person. I brushed my teeth still wondering why my boss had made me the supervisor of that project.

It was perfect, I smiled, looking in the mirror at the room behind me! Oh, it's such a relief to see everything properly assorted as per their need and size, transforming the modest apartment into a spacious room. And then I suddenly found it; a toy bunny hanging on the wall behind me. It was gifted by my ex-boyfriend. Period. 

I hurriedly rushed out of the house for my office and threw the newspaper at the doorstep, inside. It took me more effort than usual to throw it in, least bothered I moved on. It was on the way to office that I realized it was Valentine's Day. The enthusiastic din on the roads and red hues everywhere gave me the hint. I took out my cell phone to wish my girlfriends. Oops, messages and calls have already poured in. Replying to them, I got into my bus. The familiar bus conductor chuckled and gave me a ticket, I tucked it into my wallet. 

At office, everyone seemed as usual, expect for a few happy faces. The mailman approached me wishing and handed a few letters addressed to me. None were in red. Indifferently, I moved to my desk. I was invited for a party at a friend's place. It is a party for the happy people both single and committed, who either felt destined to be a couple or blessed to be single. But for us friends, Valentine’s Day was just another reason to meet. Or maybe my friends wanted to shower some love on me; especially today when love is everywhere else except around me.

I was almost the last member to leave the office, as everyone had their plans for the V-Day. I started directly for the party since I was dressed presentably, both for the office and also for the party. I was glad that I finally put to use the make-up kit that was lay in my bag for eons. My friend’s place was only a few streets across my office, so I decided to take a walk. It was a bright evening.

When I was just a street away from my destination, I came across a familiar face. It was of my ex-boyfriend. Ex would be the last person a girl would want to bump into on Valentine’s Day. Everything around me came to a stop;  for a moment I didn't understand what was going on. He was the first to see me, to gain his conscience and to greet. I knew he felt exactly what I've felt. The only difference is that he recovered, well at least, before me. We exchanged pleasantries, not like exes with compassion or friends in love or colleagues with grudge. There was nothing like it to describe or compare, so was our relationship.  

We talked. Well, he talked and all I did was simply nodding, faking smile, carelessly shrugging my shoulders and yet grasping every word even in that dizzy situation. While he was talking, my eyes were wide open trying to catch every hint or speck of a hint he was wanting me to know. After few minutes he realized there was nothing more to talk, which I gathered the second we broke up. It was not the lack of topics, but an acknowledgement that any further talk can take us and the time, back to when we were together. I was searching frantically for a reason to confront my heart and move along, but I ended up smiling as there was no need for a reason; either to smile or to walk away. I should have popped off that very moment before the volley of negative inklings hit me. Answering my uneasiness, a gold-plated silver ring on his ring finger said a hello and the next second my eyes zoomed in on the bunch of red roses in his hand. 

Turning away, I called for a cab.