Our Story

Chapter 13

That was the fourth day since I was jammed on the footpath outside that hospital. Those two ladies finally took some pity on me and called me at the inquiry counter in the morning.

I saw both of their names were written on the name batches clutched on their dresses. One of those two women named Laura, asked me, "It is difficult for us to find her on the basis of the information you gave. Can you tell something more about her?"

I replied to them, "Whatever I knew I told you already. I don't know anything else that I can tell you about her, except she is wearing a ring in her ring finger."

And then I requested them, "Can you show me the profiles of all the students. In that way I can identify her."

"Well, that's not possible. We don't have authority to do that." She replied.

Then the other girl, Sophie, asked me, "Can you tell us anything about her identification. Anything else, besides her father has cancer."

What else would I tell them about ‘her'? Memorizing her in my mind I started telling them the thing I liked her for. "She has the most beautiful smile in the world displaying pearly teeth with dimples on her cheek. All naive actions of her could easily make anyone stick around her. Those Shining deep blue eyes of her, enough to make anyone fall for her. And...and I was wrong so very wrong because I let her go thinking she was just another girl." And yup I was again lost in her memories, displaying an stupid smile on my idiotic face.

When I got out of my thoughts, I saw they both were out of words and continuously staring at me with their blinking eyes like I was a fool and didn't ask me anything else. Must be thinking they shouldn't have asked me anything otherwise I would start narrating another poem to them.

I was so confused as to what was happening with me and was asking myself repeatedly, ‘Why couldn't I just run away from her memories.’ Even after wasting my four days there waiting for her, I couldn't figure out what my heart really wanted.

Looking at their blank faces, I asked myself, "Literally, what I was even telling them and they were listening to me very carefully without interruptions." Sure that was just because they were pitying me and pitying on my freaking condition. Else nobody listened to my rant of praising a girl that attentively.

When they didn't say anything I asked hesitantly, "Did I say something I shouldn't have said !?"

Sophie asked me, "You told us before that you are just attracted to her ?"

They asked me the same question as that ‘fake blind’ beggar. Giving myself a forehead slap I replied in frustration, "Yeah ! Absolutely that's what I am saying."

She slowly replied to my reaction, "O...K...A...Y !" As if she wasn't agreeing with me but satisfying me that she agreed. And the three of us kept silent for some time in our thoughts.

Well, that was strangely the truth that I had more than attraction towards her and everyone else was understanding but not me. Or maybe I was trying to deny that feeling as I was afraid of accepting that it wasn't just an attraction for her.

Anyways.. !!

At last I broke the silence telling them, "And yes one more thing she is now engaged, you can find an engaged female student but I don't know about her fiance and if I truly say I don't even want to know about her fiance."

Sophie's eyes widened and she asked me, "She is engaged ! Then why are you wasting your time on her?"

"Even if you found her, you couldn't do anything ?" Laura interjected.

"Whoa ! Mam. I don't have any other business with her. I just want to talk to her once." I said to them, clearing my point.

Laura shockingly questioned me, "Are you insane? It's been four days since you were on the footpath, just because you want to talk to her once ?"

"Yes. I just want to clear my confusion and nothing else." I replied.

"Hey! Wait a minute. You were saying that you have never talked to her then how do you know she got engaged." Sophie interjected.

"I told you earlier that she is wearing a ring in the ring finger." I answered.

"Oh ! The ring." She said with an understanding nod.

"Yes ! The ring." I repeated as I remembered we both are wearing the same thumb ring. With the hope that she would still be wearing the same thumb ring as I am, I told them, showing my hand, "Hey ! She also is wearing this same ring on her left thumb."

They both stared at my hand then stared at each other's faces in confusion sharing some silent conversation between themselves. I guess must be thinking how can they identify anyone with such a small ring.

But still that girl Sophie politely replied, "Ok…Umm ! As soon as we find a girl wearing the same thumb ring, we'll inform you."

I said, "Ok." and as there was nothing left for me, I took a few steps away from the counter, thinking, "They both only could help me in that way."

But suddenly it came to my mind how they'll inform me. And I get back to the counter, asking them, "How will you inform me you haven't taken my number and what if you forgot the ring?"

That main receptionist Laura was again confused. I was wondering how she did her job with such a confused mind.

Never mind !!

Again Sophie interrupted in between us, "Oh, Yeah ! Let me write down your phone number."

Taking the pic of my thumb and my contact number, she said to me, "You should go back to your home now without worrying and be patient. I'll inform you."

I replied, "Ok. Don't forget... Please." And I stepped out to the gates.

Seeing me standing on the gates, Scott asked me with a smile, "Succeeded ?"

I replied in slight disappointment, "Not yet. But they took my contact number and asked me to go home. I am also thinking the same. We both are from the same place, I must go there and search for her."

After listening to me I noticed that the smile he had for my success on his face was faded and he asked me with a screwed up face, "So, it's the time for you too to leave me ?"

And I too became upset, I didn't like that sadness on his wrinkled face. I was around him continuously for four days and surprisingly we both were enjoying each other's company despite having many difficulties. He was someone I had a long conversation with after Uncle Paul.

Cheering him up I said, "I can be here next to you, wearing black glasses with a bowl in my hand and give you a company in your job."

He smiled slightly and replied, "I don't want a handsome beggar competing with me. So, better you leave", patting my shoulder.

" And I want you to search for the girl. Go find her, my boy." He said , giving me an affiliative smile.

I asked him, " Why don't you come with me? I promise I won't throw you. No matter how crazy you would be."

He grinned and replied, " I would love to, BUT.. " he stopped and didn't say anything.

But that 'BUT' explained everything to me and I said, "It's been 30 months and I don't think they'll come back to you. You should think about yourself and your life. And your life definitely does not deserve this."

"Life survives on hope, doesn't it. Don't underestimate me." He repeated my words.

That made me smile and I repeated his words, "And I hope your efforts pay off soon." And I asked him, "Do you want something ?"

He immediately outspoken, " Absolutely! An air mattress would be perfect."

I said, "Ofcourse."

Before leaving I shared a homie handshake with him, which I learned from an i********: video. And then I headed to the metro station to go back to my station.