The Reunion

He stood blank at the center of multiplex lobby with movie tickets in one hand and popcorn tub in the other. She turned resolutely and then walked away. And left him too…on the very same day he meticulously planned to perk things up and set them right. His vision was reduced to just strokes of blurry shades, as the hint of her presence kept getting enveloped by people pouring in.

In that swarm of colors, he was the only one who wore red on the face.

Days went by, but if she too was broken after the breakup, he didn’t notice. The irrevocable parting transpired stiff hatred in him for her. It helped foil the hole she left in his heart for some time. But it was hard to uphold resentments, even of disproportionate measure, when they had to share the rest of the year at college. And then there was that weak moment when he ultimately decided to give in and try to patch up their differences. For some things are worth the effort they command.

It was drizzling lightly when he was on his way to the community area where he expected to see her at that hour of night. It began to rain heavily and he had to make a run to the library’s pavement nearby. Before he could even gauge the extent to which he was drenched he spotted her standing, not very far away, under that pavement itself. She was wearing a beautiful white dress but what really adorned her was the smile. He decided to approach her and talk it out when he realized that she was not alone. 

She was with someone he had known pretty well since his first day at college. That someone, his friend was apparently quite comfortable with her. She looked likewise. His hand embracing her shoulder sent tremors of agony running down his spine. Every crack of her laughter now felt like a million needles piercing through him, mocking him, corroding him. He went out in the rain as droplets trudged through his writhing face. 

A torrent of love, sacrifice, betrayal…
The hate was restored, more powerful than he ever thought he could muster.
…and payback!

-----------------------------------------------------

It was the class reunion that day. It had been ten years since they all got out of college. But for him it felt like yesterday when he was wounded for life. For a very long time, he had waited for this moment when he would prove his worth to her. All his achievements, laurels and successes had just one burden, of which he hoped to redeem himself today.

Absolute humiliation is what he had in mind. Nothing less!

His sleek white luxury sedan looked totally out of place. The recent Vice President promotion that earned him a substantial bonus reflected in everything he carried to the party. After a lengthy session of greetings and handshakes, he spotted her from distance. For once, it was difficult to recognize her for she had changed volumes – a little subtle, manifolds simple, quite graceful. She was draped in a humble gown and had made no visible efforts to hide her graying hair. She was discreetly sitting in a chair, away from the “happening” sections of the gathering.

It was going to be a piece of cake.
He swaggered towards her with hubris of his swanky car, extravagant tux, lavish watch, classy choice of drink…

As he closed in to purge the decade of hatred he had lived with, he noticed something more than what met his eye from distance. She was sitting on a wheelchair and her husband was cautiously pushing it around the room. He still had a hand caressing her shoulder…

-----------------------------------------------------

Not very long after passing out of college, she met with an accident and lost both her legs. The fact they were still together said much more than his loathing ever did.

When taking his car out of the parking, he saw him helping her get in their car. They seem to be doing okay. He couldn’t summon enough courage to face them in the party but he did wave at them this time. They waved back with smiles that cleansed him of every adverse emotion that he had conjured.