Arbitrary Thoughts

Saturday eve, it was. They both decided to meet at the beach and spend some time as usual. It was nothing special that day, but their meetings were always auspicious for her!

She never missed a single Saturday. She was always eager to meet him and used to arrive quite early at the beach. She waited there amidst the playing children, vendors and other couples, staring at the blue sky getting red shades.

She always maintained a cellphone but the excitement and the breeze both avoided her technological distraction!

As he approached, she greeted with a warm hug and watery eyes. Nevertheless, she was better at preventing tears from being noticed. He always brought wonderful gifts for her whenever they met. Today he was empty-handed!

The thoughts had already paved a way into her mind, though she acted consciously with a contemplated smile.

“Why is he empty-handed today? Did he cease loving me? No! He sounded alright in the morning! Maybe, I didn’t ask him if he was alright! But still, he would have told me if it had to be something like that!”

He made her sit on the bench – their regular bench, away from the wet sea-shore and noise of the crowd – which was always empty on Saturdays!

She was still thinking about his bare hands! He could easily notice that curiosity, but he ignored it! He knew how much she loved him. He asked her what she wanted – an ice-cream or a cotton candy – both were her favourites! ‘Anything’ wasn’t a reply he heard before!

He left the place looking for the vendor around! While walking, he turned back to see her mind engrossed in thoughts. She was deeply hurt.

“Is he shifting to a new residence? Do his parents dislike me? Is his new female colleague more beautiful than me? Is someone influencing him? How can he not tell me! I’d always been close

to him. He told me every single detail whether it was about me or against me! I’ve not even disappointed him recently! How can he be so different today?”

There arrived two guys and started flirting with her as she was alone! She asked them to wait for a couple of minutes if they wanted to meet her boyfriend! Those guys fled the place at once.

“Look, I’m so independent and confident! I understand the difference between right and wrong. We also understand each other so much. We have been together for so many years, but I never had such suspicious thoughts in my mind! Has anything changed? Is this the day I always feared about! But, all boys aren’t the same and I know him since many years!”

Tears would have fallen from her eyes in no time!

“How can he do this to me? I’ve never asked him for anything besides his love till date! I love him very much!”

“Yes, I know that”, he said with an intense look!

He had again returned with bare hands, but she could hardly remember why he went away for a while!

“Sorry, what are you talking about?”, she asked him with her watery eyes.

“I know that you love me very much”.

“But, when did I say that?”

“It was loud enough for me to hear!”

“But, where had you been?”, she asked as she remembered!

“Leave that! I want to tell you something very important.”, he said.

The serious expression on his face sent a chill down her spine. She was too nervous to look at him and least anxious to know about it.

He made his hand reach his pocket and remove something out.

“I love you and I want to marry you”, he said holding a ring in his hand.

Tears rolled down her chicks. She remembered her thoughts trying to drag her to the opposite end and she quit them at once! She didn't say a word. Instead she just hugged him tightly as she could.

The jeweler wished him good luck with his gesture-signs from behind!

The sunset was the perfect witness of the beginning of a new phase of their relationship!