The
meeting is in the
lunch hall. Its at same time, same place everyday. We buy our lunches, pick up tables and sit in the hall with our respective friends across the hall. We are two complete strangers not knowing the others name or any other information for that matter. The anonymity relaxed us immensely; or so it seemed. After about three quarters of an hour, we pick our empty plates and dump them in the sink. His eyes are reproachful at the sight of my plate which still has some food left. I avert my eyes and give him a small shrug as if I was sorry. He nods his head slightly as though accepting my apology. I hear my friends calling my name and asking if I am up to a glass of juice. They always ask and I always give an assertive nod. These conversation has become more of a ritual than habit. He is there at the juice counter. He asks for grape juice and I for an orange juice, as usual. Again, we take our mugs to our respective friends. Our eyes meet across a sea of people. He is laughing at something his friend has said and I am scowling at my friend for a naive comment. He raises his eyebrows in question and seem to ask me -
"Are you alright?" Its still a wonder how he could see me standing so far with so many people around us. I continue arguing with my friend but with a smile on my face. I finish my drink and look around before I leave this
lunch hall. I see him leaning on the wall in the same fashion as before. He raises his glass by just a notch. I mimic his action and we look away from each other at the same time. As I walk past him, our eyes meet once for a fraction of second and I completely understood what it meant
"Till tomorrow then"Labels: short story
0 comments