Mithra

When time stood still! {5} ‘Would you mind if I sit down on your berth?’ My throat went dry hearing her words. ‘No, absolutely not.’ The words simply fell out of my mouth while my lips curved into a sheepish smile. In the next minute, she was comfortably seated in front of me with her legs crossed. I removed the headphones hanging around my neck and put it in my bag while she sat gazing outside the window. The cold air almost gave me goose bumps but she remained unfazed even when the rain drops sprinkled on her face. I could not help brazenly staring at her. The good boy in me was furious at my own shamelessness. Never before have I stared at the features of a woman for two full minutes. My eyes began slowly consuming the beauty, moving from her long eyebrows, to her almond eyes and then to her luscious peach lips. The train began to leave the platform and I reluctantly tore my gaze away from her before she could catch me red-handed. It would have been too embarras...

When time stood still! {4} Have you ever woken up by a sudden whiff of love? I have. Even though a year has passed since my break-up with Asmi, I have been shaken out of sleep by her fragrance. If ever love had a scent, it smelled like her. Today is one such morning. One moment, I was sound asleep and the next moment, I am up on my bed panting for breath. For a brief second, I could only smell her, a strong scent of roses. The wall clock showed ten minutes past six in the morning. There was no going back to sleep. I decided to take a shower and reach office early. Unlocking the screen on my phone, I realized that it was a Sunday. God cannot be crueller than this! The days I visit the office are much bearable compared to holidays. But looking back to the initial few months, I am much saner now. The heartache was a savage pain that consumed me. I never let my mind dwell over her. The moment, I was drawn towards her memories, I crowded my mind with more work. Those were also th...

When time stood still! {3} The smell of wet earth was everywhere around us. We were in the middle of a forest, on the way to see a hidden waterfall. It was our first trip as a couple and she had chosen this place. I was not much of a trekker but she frequently went in the quest of unexplored destinations. Asmi hated crowded tourist spots. That day we had already completed an hour of trekking through the lush green forest. We could hear the roar of the cascading waterfall. I had stopped to drink some water from a small stream trickling down the rocks. After gulping down a handful of water, I washed my sweaty face. The cool water was refreshing. That is when I caught her staring at me without even batting her eyelids. The look in her eyes set me on fire instantly. She left her backpack on the grass and slowly walked towards me. I wanted to rush towards her and grab her but I stood rooted to the spot. She came so close to me that my senses were overpowered by the intoxicating sce...

When time stood still! {2} The sunlight was mercilessly hitting my closed eyelids forcing them to open. My head felt heavy and it was indeed a struggle to keep my eyes open. But the disorientation lasted only for a few seconds. The next moment a dull pain weighed down on my chest when my eyes fell on the sketchbook next to me. Immediately, the tears were back at the doorstep of my eyes. Asmi had left me… I had almost exhausted my tears last night after her call. Although I tried calling her again, she blocked my number after the third attempt. There was no point in trying to get in touch with her through any other social networking apps. Technology! Blocking someone out of your life was as easy as getting in touch with a complete stranger. She wanted me out of her life, the message was loud and clear. I loved her too much to give her any more pain in life. Sooner or later this was bound to happen and I was the one to be blamed. Maybe this separation was necessary for...

When time stood still!   {1} Unable to resist the temptation, I dialed her number although I knew that she would not answer my call. Yet, I could not stop myself! As expected, my call went unanswered. I kept the phone aside on my study table and let out a long drawn breath. The clock on the wall showed 11.23 PM. It was late in the night but not late enough for two people in love. For lovers, the night had just begun. For me, the most romantic time in a day was not dusk or dawn. It is the night… Nothing can beat the serenity and comfort of a full moon night. It was that part of a day when time stood still. When everything around you has vanished into the silence of darkness. A time when your deepest desires spread wings to touch the sky. I am a night person and I have always been one. But she was not my type. She did not revel in loneliness like me. Solitude was not something that she romanced. Maybe that was why I fell for Asmi! The French windows in my bedroom gaze...

She deserves better… It was a lovely evening with the promise of rain. The dark heavy clouds were on the verge of giving birth to tiny droplets of life. I stared at the sky, but the blue was missing. Our minds work in a very strange way. Most of the days when the sky is clear, I don’t even care to glance up at it. Yet today, when it is completely covered with clouds I am craving to see a patch of blue. I pulled hard at the cigarette and let out rings of smoke into the gloomy atmosphere. I was rethinking my decision. Maybe I should not have done this. Shall I call him and tell him to cancel the arrangement? But I have already paid him the money. Bastard! He only knows the language of money… Never mind! Let me at least get the benefit of spending Rs 5000. I have been married to Suhasini for 13 years. We have a 10-year old son Bhuvan, whom we both adore. I am an investment banker and she is a HR Manager. Between work, Bhuvan and house chores, Suhasini could barely spend tim...