The College Reunion
It was strange. She had never expected he would disconnect. Was this the end? Did he disconnect her from his life after her confession? And then the phone rang once again. She swiped and heard a casual, nervous laugh on the receiver saying, "Hey, this is a prank right. You must be kidding right."
He thinks this is a joke? How do I respond? She had prepared for a host of scenarios but this one wasn't one of them. With a brief pause, she replied, "Yes. Obviously."
"Thank God. You sure scared the hell outta me. Its getting late. Lets talk tomorrow."
"Sure", and she disconnected the call as the speaker let out a faint good night.
After all the mental rehearsals, this confession of her love turned into a joke. Was she being serious this entire eve? Did she really love him or was it her desperation for having someone close? What was going to happen next? With all the jumbled up thoughts she fell asleep.
Next morning, she got up with a clarity of thought. The sleep had cleared her head. As she had her rest, her mind was working hard, sorting out things and eventually came up with a course of action. Step 1: Avoid talking to him for a few days to get over the feeling. Step 2: Socialise with people. Step 3: Never reject future dates.
The entire day at work was usual. Her girlfriends discussed their romantic outings of the previous day. Half smiling, half listening she got past their stories, while trying not to think of her proposal joke.
Later in the night, he called, she turned the phone to silent mode and dozed off.
The next day passed like every other day, until she received a call from Neha, to attend the college reunion the following day. Many folks from her batch were expected to attend. An opportunity to socialise. So she readily accepted the invite.
She intentionally ignored his call the second day as well.
Day 3. College reunion day. It was meant to be a reunion lunch, as the college authorities thought it would be safe for their female alumni. And so she was back to college. As expected, a lot of her batch-mates were present. She hadn't been in contact with most of them and so she had her small talks and compliments for successes ready to be given to everyone. Acting like the best of friends who would not meet until another such occasion.
Amongst these hi, hellos she bumped into Rahul - her first proposal guy - whom she hardly recognised.
"Hey Olive, how you doing? Where's Nik?"
"Hey, I'm good", she replied trying to remember his name from memory. "Nik.. Nik's in UK"
"You don't remember me, do you?"
"Ye... No. Sorry", she replied embarrassed.
"Its Rahul. Remember the guy who proposed you in first year"
"Oh.. right. How could I forget you. You proposed to Priya right besides me immediately after I rejected, as if nothing had happened. Where is Priya?"
"Actually, we kind of broke up after college. I thought she might have told you. Anyways you two got together?"
"Who? Priya? I haven't been in touch with her"
"No re, silly. Nik. I thought you two were together."
"What!! No. We have been in touch but we are just friends"
"Oh!! I see. By the way, how's work?"
"Its good. What about..."
"Hey Rahul, how you man?" came an interruption form behind her.
"Good. I will be there. Just a sec", he replied back to the unknown voice. "Way too many people here", he told her, "Wish to catch up later?"
"You asking me on a date?"
"No. I know how you feel about the whole dating scenario. Just.."
"Actually, I'm fine with it. Tonight? Dinner?"
"You sure? I don't want to be Brutus to your Olive-Popeye story."
"This Olive has no Popeye. Maybe you could be the Popeye", she winked.
"Great. Sure. I'll come to get you." And they exchanged numbers.
She did not meet Rahul, until later in the evening, when he came to pick her up for dinner.
All 3 steps smoothly accomplished, as if it was destined to be. It was now a matter of time until things went back to normal for Olive.
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