Goodbyes

There was a silence between them. From somewhere far away, faint music of a popular Bollywood song filled the silence.Both of them were in search for something, words maybe.

The clock ticked. The pressure cooker had whistled four times already. Water was gushing down into the bucket from an unclosed tap.There was a sense of rush between them that was being metaphorically described by their surroundings.

They had to say goodbye. They wanted to. But how do they? Should they just hug and say “Until next time then?” Should they say the perfect words about the perfect relationship they had and just leave it to that? Or should they just get up and go?

He looked at her, she was smiling.

She smiled, he was staring at her.

He tried to say something but ended up just mouthing something remotely related to goodbye.

He’s finally saying something at least, she thought.

“My train leaves in two hours”, he said.

“Well, I have a flight to catch in three hours”, she said.

Of course, both of them knew this. The timing had been carefully planned between them so that neither has to say goodbye first. They wanted it this way. Right before they left, so that the pain travels with them.

She knew he wanted it. She didn’t agree to it at first but then slowly she realised wouldn’t it be best to leave the perfect things as they are? Why turn the beautiful memories they shared into bitter sweet ones where they would have to avoid looking at each other. She wanted them to meet up at a coffee shop by the road, after a few long years and over a cup of coffee, they would go back in time to relive what were those perfect seven days.

He knew she didn’t want it. That had been his plan since the first day. No long distance relationship. But now when he looks into her eyes, a pain sears in his heart. Would he able to live without those warm hugs that greeted him every morning as sunshine or those late night talks where every random topic used to become an important topic for them?

The clock struck 5. His phone’s alarm went off. Both of them stood up.

So its goodbye then, she said.

Maybe it’s not, he said.