Anant's POV
I sat there fiddling with car keys as I waited for Kanika to honour me with her graceful presence. She had called me in the morning to meet up. She was super stern, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy. Though at the start I was more confused when my phone rang, and it was her name that was blinking on the screen. I had to double check after picking up her call by first pinching my hand and then second time pinching my balls to make sure it was reality and not a dream. 'Damn, that pinch did hurt a lot.'
I looked at my phone to check the time— 3:46 pm. Our meeting time was 4 pm, but I got too excited and arrived here at 3:30 pm, 30 mins prior to our meeting time.
'I still remember how we used to make appointments for video calls when we were still in relationships saving the safest hours of the day for each other when both her and mine family were busy and we knew no one would disturb us but sometimes even luck would use us as its source of entertainment making us run errands for our family when we were supposed to be on a face times.' I didn't even realise I was smiling to myself until I saw my reflection on the phone screen.
I checked the time again, and it was now 3:52, "still 8 minutes left," I sighed, lowering my head on the table.
"Eight minutes to what?" The voice made me jump from the chair in excitement. It was Kanika in a plain black fitted shirt with its sleeves rolled up to the elbow and blue bootcut jeans. Only a wrist watch with a rusty colour band was the accessory she wore, and she carried a plain dark brown sling bag on her shoulder. She wasn't wearing any makeup, just some lip balm that I could tell from the slight shine her lips gave away from the reflection of light, and her hair was messily half pinned up in a clutcher.
"I was just waiting for you, but weren't we supposed to meet at 4 pm?" I raised my eyebrow with curiosity to know the answer to why she was early. I extended my hand for a handshake.
"I left home early thinking there would be too much traffic for Sunday but surprisingly there wasn't." she made a namaste gesture by joining her both hands together and sat down in the chair in front of me and I sat back too "Why are YOU early? How long did you wait?" she asked, emphasizing you a bit too much as if suggesting who am I to ask her questions when I do the same.
"I got excited to meet you, though I didn't wait long," I answered with a smile, trying to see her reaction, but she didn't seem to like the answer at all. 'It's not like I made up that answer. I was expecting her to at least give me a smile.'
"Should we order something?" I suggested passing one menu towards her and going through the other myself. I just want to spend time together.
"No need, I ate before coming here. The only reason I came personally rather than transferring money online was to make it clear to you that I don't need your favours and that you ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT DO THIS AGAIN, understand? I wish to keep no contact with you. The image you have of us together belongs to the past that no longer exists. We both have changed with time, and you need to accept that, okay? If you understand that, don't try to find me again." She passed me the money and started standing up to leave, but I held onto her bag.
"Kanika, how will I prove myself if you don't give me a chance? Please, I beg you, please sit down and listen." I held onto the strap of her bag tighter, as my life depended on it, like that was the only thing that kept Kanika with me.
"Make it fast," she grumbled as she sat back in the chair.
"I thought you liked it slow and filled with feelings," I commented, knowing real well that I was gonna get scolded. Her eyes widened, too stunned to speak, she started looking here and there, making sure no one heard it, and buried her face in her hands in embarrassment, but her reaction was worth the scolding.
"Anant baat karni hai toh kar warna mai jaari. Merme nahi hai faltu ka patience," she warned me with her glare, and I knew better than anyone else when not to annoy her and decided not to risk it. 'My tiny ticking time bomb.'
(Anant, if you want to talk, then talk; otherwise, I am going. I don't have patience for nonsense.)
"Okay, okay, no more jokes. So what I want to say is ki Kanika agar mujhe apne aapko prove karne ka mauka hi nahi dogi toh kese kya karunga mai? Mai janta hun cheeje badal gayi hai, and so have we. Par tumbhi toh samjho ki time badal gaya hai. Time age badh gaya apan khud apni line mai bahut agge agye toh kyu uss saalo purane topic se agge nhi aya jara." I said it all in one breath, expecting a little softness in her.
(Okay, okay, no more jokes. So what I want to say is, Kanika, how will I prove myself if you don't give me a chance to do so? I know things have changed, and so have we. But you also try to understand that the time has changed. Time has moved forward, and so have we in our own lives, so then why can't you move forward from that year-long topic?)
"Same to you," she replied nonchalantly, unfazed by what I said. I was utterly confused.
"You are asking me to move on from the topic of your so-called mistakes because time has changed, and that I should move on, but what about you being stuck on me for so many years? Why couldn't you let ME go? Huh?" She stated her point confidently, her questions hitting all the sensitive nerves.
"These are two different things." I couldn't find words to refute her words. It ain't her fault she feels like that. 'I am really a shit and selfish person.'
"OK, I accept it time has changed, we have changed past no longer exist, then let's start all over again from a stranger's level, let's start from introduction and getting to know each other's new version on a more deeper and more real basis this time this time I will prove to you that I am your Mister Right." I stood up with new energy, a new hope for a new us, and extended my hand again for a handshake. This time, she chuckled a bit.
"You think it's funny or something? I am serious here." I said in a pouty tone, trying to act like a baby, and she laughed more genuinely and audibly this time, nodding her head in a yes. 'I swear to God I could watch her laugh all day long.'
She slowly controlled her laugh and stood up too. "My name is Kanika Bharadwaj." She took my hand and shook it. "My name is Anant Shukla. Can we now order something?" I thought maybe now we can finally spend some time together.
"Nope, Mister Shukla, we are still not close enough for that." She started collecting her stuff.
"So you are leaving now?" I didn't want her to leave.
"Yes," she replied as she started leaving.
"I will message you later, you'd better reply, Miss Bharadwaj," I informed her, expecting a no or again some kind of protest in return.
"Whatever," she answered as if she didn't care about it and left.
I wanted to stop her from going. I wanted to hold her, but that surely would have ruined things I am trying so hard to mend. 'But surely she didn't mind the idea as she didn't say no or did any protest to the idea.'