The Pact
This is the 4th part of the 5 part series. You can read the previous parts here - The Call, The Date, The College Reunion.
Was it a joke? It did not seem like. She must have lied to me. But what about the proposal? She had never done that one before. We had been together for a really long time in India and why now? Something is not right. What about Lyra? What to tell her? How to justify this entire night? The once wonderful date night had become a distant memory, weighed down by these thoughts. He got home, went straight to his bed and tried endlessly to forget this as if it was a bad dream. The lack of sleep just increased his confusion.
Desperation was at an all time high. Olive or Lyra?
Later at the desk Lyra came jumping, smiling. "Hey Nik, wish to catch up lunch", she winked.
"Hey Ly... Lyra", he stuttered, "I.. I.. want to talk. Can you.. we speak in pri.. private"
"Hey dude slow. Don't you go on the knee" she said chuckling. "We had just one date. If its not that then we may talk."
"Yes.. No.. I mean not.. not that"
"Ooookay. Let's go to Macey's and grab some lunch. We can talk there. At this time it ain't crowded."
"Okay"
At Macey's she ordered a hamburger, while he took a lemonade and grabbed the seat overlooking the road. The sun falling on his eyes obscured his 10-10 vision and the face in front of him was just a silhouette of Lyra. This gave him some confidence as he stated, "Lyra I got something to talk about."
"Wow, I thought we were here to make-out", with the most sarcastic tone she interrupted.
"Ly.. Lyra. It's serious. Will.. will you hear me out for a moment. I..I don't think we can continue."
"What!! What's wrong? You are the first guy that I asked out on a date and after first base, you dump me. Sounds crazy. Did you realise that you like guys after that kiss?", she chortled.
"No. No I'm not gay. It's complicated" and then he narrated his entire story to her - right from his love at first sight moment to the might be joke.
"Oh God! Your crush is just as crazy as you. I think you should speak to her asap and get things cleared. I can't let you cheat on yourself considering the person you are." He could not see the flash of anger and sympathy that passed her face, nor the sad smile as she said, "We sure had a good time."
"Thanks. Thanks for understanding and helping me out", he replied with a big smile of relief, relief that she did not slap like he do expected it.
"No need to thank me. Just pay the bill and don't forget the tip"
Evening, he got home and called up Olive but no reply. It wasn't late even for India. She might be busy with other work, he thought to himself.
The next day he called up even earlier, still no reply. Why is she ignoring me? Tomorrow I'll call even earlier.
A working Saturday always came with the perk of leaving office before the stipulated time. And as soon he got home, he ringed her up. The instant the call connected he started in desperation, "Hello. Hello Olive"
"Hey, It's Popeye"
What! He checked the number on his display. The screen displayed her name right. Who was this? "Hello Olive. Hello, whoisthis on Olive's phone?" he interjected in flash.
"Hey Nik. Chill man. I'm Rahul. Remember me old friend."
"Yes. Yes Rahul. Where is Olive? I need to speak to her."
"Olive is busy on a date. She has asked you to call her tomorrow."
"Date? What? Who? Stop fooling me"
"Man. Serious. We are on a date. You can ask her about this surprise tomorrow. Let us enjoy our first night" and then the call ended.
This has to be a joke. Not again. And he dialled again only to be greeted by the auto reply lady, suggesting the phone was powered off.
Devastated. He lay back on the bed all night thinking everything and nothing. Everything, every moment they do shared and nothing apart from that. The confusion, the mess of past three days, he needed to sort this out. Like an owl on a full moon day he lay awake - preying on his own emotions of love. Even if it doesn't work out on call tomorrow, he sure needs closure. Everyone needs closure.
Time passed slower than a snail. He had enacted all the scenarios until the sun dawned on Sunday.
Sleep deprived and driven crazy with the Tsunami of thoughts, he dialled. The phone rang, went unanswered, and then it rang again and again and again until it rang ninth time and finally came her voice, "Hello Nik"
"Hello Olive. What's going on? You professed, you declared it joke and now you are dating Rahul. Please tell me. It's driving me crazy."
"Nik. Listen. Things were pretty messed up for me and now with Rahul its getting sorted. It was all a mistake on my part and I'm sorry if this has hurt you. I think we should take the 21 days break", and she disconnected.
It was believed that any habit/skill/addiction could be learnt or unlearnt by following it or leaving it for 21 days in a row. This was the theory that had started their friendship. Back in college, he had presented this theory during their Communications lecture. After the lecture she came up to him and told him what bullshit this theory was. To prove his point, he had challenged her to start chatting with him for next 21 days and see the result for herself. It wasn't something that he had ever planned to do but this 21 day challenge was accepted and finally proven right. The 21 day theory that had started this strong friendship. And now she asked for a 21 day break. Maybe this would help them both. Maybe not. But she had asked something from him and to prove his love he would keep this pact - 21 days of not speaking.
21 days. Will this love/friendship be lost? Watch out for part 5.
Later at the desk Lyra came jumping, smiling. "Hey Nik, wish to catch up lunch", she winked.
"Hey Ly... Lyra", he stuttered, "I.. I.. want to talk. Can you.. we speak in pri.. private"
"Hey dude slow. Don't you go on the knee" she said chuckling. "We had just one date. If its not that then we may talk."
"Yes.. No.. I mean not.. not that"
"Ooookay. Let's go to Macey's and grab some lunch. We can talk there. At this time it ain't crowded."
"Okay"
At Macey's she ordered a hamburger, while he took a lemonade and grabbed the seat overlooking the road. The sun falling on his eyes obscured his 10-10 vision and the face in front of him was just a silhouette of Lyra. This gave him some confidence as he stated, "Lyra I got something to talk about."
"Wow, I thought we were here to make-out", with the most sarcastic tone she interrupted.
"Ly.. Lyra. It's serious. Will.. will you hear me out for a moment. I..I don't think we can continue."
"What!! What's wrong? You are the first guy that I asked out on a date and after first base, you dump me. Sounds crazy. Did you realise that you like guys after that kiss?", she chortled.
"No. No I'm not gay. It's complicated" and then he narrated his entire story to her - right from his love at first sight moment to the might be joke.
"Oh God! Your crush is just as crazy as you. I think you should speak to her asap and get things cleared. I can't let you cheat on yourself considering the person you are." He could not see the flash of anger and sympathy that passed her face, nor the sad smile as she said, "We sure had a good time."
"Thanks. Thanks for understanding and helping me out", he replied with a big smile of relief, relief that she did not slap like he do expected it.
"No need to thank me. Just pay the bill and don't forget the tip"
********************************************
Evening, he got home and called up Olive but no reply. It wasn't late even for India. She might be busy with other work, he thought to himself.
********************************************
The next day he called up even earlier, still no reply. Why is she ignoring me? Tomorrow I'll call even earlier.
********************************************
A working Saturday always came with the perk of leaving office before the stipulated time. And as soon he got home, he ringed her up. The instant the call connected he started in desperation, "Hello. Hello Olive"
"Hey, It's Popeye"
What! He checked the number on his display. The screen displayed her name right. Who was this? "Hello Olive. Hello, whoisthis on Olive's phone?" he interjected in flash.
"Hey Nik. Chill man. I'm Rahul. Remember me old friend."
"Yes. Yes Rahul. Where is Olive? I need to speak to her."
"Olive is busy on a date. She has asked you to call her tomorrow."
"Date? What? Who? Stop fooling me"
"Man. Serious. We are on a date. You can ask her about this surprise tomorrow. Let us enjoy our first night" and then the call ended.
This has to be a joke. Not again. And he dialled again only to be greeted by the auto reply lady, suggesting the phone was powered off.
Devastated. He lay back on the bed all night thinking everything and nothing. Everything, every moment they do shared and nothing apart from that. The confusion, the mess of past three days, he needed to sort this out. Like an owl on a full moon day he lay awake - preying on his own emotions of love. Even if it doesn't work out on call tomorrow, he sure needs closure. Everyone needs closure.
Time passed slower than a snail. He had enacted all the scenarios until the sun dawned on Sunday.
Sleep deprived and driven crazy with the Tsunami of thoughts, he dialled. The phone rang, went unanswered, and then it rang again and again and again until it rang ninth time and finally came her voice, "Hello Nik"
"Hello Olive. What's going on? You professed, you declared it joke and now you are dating Rahul. Please tell me. It's driving me crazy."
"Nik. Listen. Things were pretty messed up for me and now with Rahul its getting sorted. It was all a mistake on my part and I'm sorry if this has hurt you. I think we should take the 21 days break", and she disconnected.
It was believed that any habit/skill/addiction could be learnt or unlearnt by following it or leaving it for 21 days in a row. This was the theory that had started their friendship. Back in college, he had presented this theory during their Communications lecture. After the lecture she came up to him and told him what bullshit this theory was. To prove his point, he had challenged her to start chatting with him for next 21 days and see the result for herself. It wasn't something that he had ever planned to do but this 21 day challenge was accepted and finally proven right. The 21 day theory that had started this strong friendship. And now she asked for a 21 day break. Maybe this would help them both. Maybe not. But she had asked something from him and to prove his love he would keep this pact - 21 days of not speaking.
21 days. Will this love/friendship be lost? Watch out for part 5.
You amaze me!!! Super like!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous. I'm glad you liked it☺️
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