Chapter 4: In a Meeting (I Will Not Put You in Trouble)

 

While I was just conversing with Rani regarding what to do, a message popped up, nearly half an hour later of the previous message.

Hi, it’s me, yet not responded, where are we meeting?

I again showed the message to Rani. She read and before she could utter a word, a message popped up again.

?? Whats up? Where are you? Its blue tick by the way. I am sure you are seeing the message, yet not responding. ???

I kept the mobile on the dining table thinking I would pay no heed to it. But my reluctance to reply did not stop the explosion of message. It kept on popping up at a regular interval. Later, its frequency increased.

I am sorry. Reply soon.

I can fix it.

Everything will be fine.

See, we need to communicate. I don’t want any more communication gap between us.

Still waiting for your reply!

Let’s catch up soon!

I can explain everything!

I must be given a chance!

I am afraid I will lose you again!

Each message appeared at a regular interval, probably after a gap of ten to fifteen minutes. We kept on reading the messages as it kept on appearing on the screen. But both of us were quiet. In fact, the silence has silenced us. I was indisputably reluctant to reply to any of his messages. But it kept on popping up from time to time as if he would set everything right now only.

His last message, “I am afraid I will lose you again” compelled me to ponder whether I should reply. I had yet not made up my mind. But I read it again and again. I thought, when  had he won me ever? How the question of losing me can arise?

A one liner man, as he was called in his friends’ circle, one who never liked to write more than a sentence or two and if he needed to repeat anything he would take the help of 10 within brackets, has written so many one line messages to me.   

Rani said, “Do you want to call him?”

“I don’t know. I am not sure.” I replied.

“It seems he has something to share and express”, she said.

“You can message him.” Rani sounded firm.

She believed it is courteous to reply. After all he was no stranger. Communication gap can irreversibly damage any relation.  The greatest problems of the nations can be solved with peaceful negotiations. There’s no harm in dropping a simple message. I was just preparing to reply that a message appeared.

Planned to give me cardiac arrest?

I read it. But absolutely confused, I wanted to yell at my dilemmatic condition. I felt miserable. I was terribly torn at his statement.

I immediately picked up my mobile to call him. The call was unanswered;

But soon message came,

In a meeting. Will call you once free.