FLASHBACK 2.3

I was not on the same planet anymore. When she got down the ride, I slowly followed her out of the fair, dazed. It had been some twenty minutes; we had nearly reached the river bank, the river looked a bit swelled up. The boat had almost reached the shore when I decided it’s now or never, I snailed my way up to her and croaked in my deepest voice, “I earn around five hundred rupees in every village, I don’t have a family, but I promise I will always keep a smile on your face, Sabina.” Thank god she stood a bit away from the rest of the crowd, even her friend moved further away when she saw me approaching. There was a strange pleasure in taking her name.

Her eyes were rested at her feet, but a constant smile played on the corners of her mouth.

“Please say something … You didn’t seem the shy type judging by your haggling...haha” ‘WHAT!!! Dastakhat what are you saying, you crazy baboon! God, please don’t let her go…please make her mine, please!!!’ I was fighting internal battles while she looked up at my face with a hint of surprise, her smile growing wider.

“You didn’t tell me your name, which is all I require!” She spoke and I felt my world coming to a halt with excitement, “I was orphaned two years ago; I stitch for a living and live in the village on the other side of the bank. Why don’t you come to the village tomorrow, I live on the outskirts perhaps I will take you to my favourite spot in the village which is so peaceful you will love it.” I think she felt shy immediately after speaking to me because she grew a deep shade of scarlet and lowered her eyes again, not that she spoke looking me in the eyes earlier but now they were fixed towards the ground.

It was like I was in a dream. Oh wait, I actually was in a dream but it was like inception, dream in a dream, it was so unrealistically favourable!

She took a deep breath and asked again, “Your name?”

“Dastakhat”

“Dastakhat…” she took a deliberate pause “Ok then will I see you tomorrow?” she asked hopefully and I realized what an imbecile had I been by not answering her, making her question her own sensibility of asking me over. It must be weird for her already! “Of Course! I will be there. Noon, tomorrow noon, sure; I will have to work in the evening.”

“Yeah, see you then!” and eyes still towards the ground she turned and I smiled like a fool.

I watched her sit in the boat, there was a lot of rush, it was apparently the boat’s last trip to the other side. I kept looking at Sabina who sat there looking at her feet aware of my stare and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. It took a long time but the boat started rowing, she was moving away from me so I started walking towards the bank. I planned to stare till I could see her no more. And slowly it all fogged up and turned dark…

At this point, I used to wake up every night heavy at heart with a deep crushing feeling of desperation. And that was when I realized what I needed most in my life-The other part of my heart, MY missing piece.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***