FRIENDS FOREVER - #WRITEAPAGEADAY #BLOGCHATTER
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The breeze blew, lifting the hair off the nape of my
neck as I stood at my balcony, watching the last of the crowd disperse on the
street below. Stores had begun closing, shutters half down, as pedestrians made
their way to and fro, apparently relieved that another long day was over. It
was then that I thought I heard a soft knock at the front door.
I turned back,
and looked at the clock that was ticking away, unperturbed, in the bedroom. I
could just about read the time from the balcony... eleven fifteen.
The knock
came again, a little louder this time. I peered over the balcony, but there was
no one there. My front door was hidden from view, and I had no intention of
toppling over the edge for an extra look. Who could it be at that hour? I certainly
had no intention of going downstairs to check. Living alone had its advantages,
but opening the front door close to midnight was not one of them.
The street
below was empty apart from a few homeless folk, huddled into dim shapes on the
pavements. These people disappeared during the day, but returned promptly as
dusk fell. Each had his own spot, and they were rather territorial about them
too, bickering over them especially if a new vagrant landed up.
This time the
knock was louder. I needed to go downstairs, but I still had no intention of
opening the door unless I knew who it was at this odd hour.
The breeze
still blew, and the curtains in the sitting room moved as though they were
dancing in the moonlight. At the front door, I peered through the peep hole and
saw a familiar figure outside. It was Rohan, my neighbour and also a good
friend from way before.
I threw the
door open, and Rohan smiled, though a trace of annoyance lingered on his face.
“Does one
have to break the door down to catch your attention?” he remarked with a hint
of sarcasm.
“There is
something called a mobile phone, you know?” I answered pertly. “Why on earth didn’t
you bother to call me?”
“I wanted to
surprise you, Mona!” he smiled, holding out a package wrapped with shiny red
paper. I took it gingerly, aware of the many pranks Rohan had played on me
while we were growing up. It was difficult to take him seriously.
“Ro, what on
earth is in this?” I shook it vigorously, as he flinched away, which made me
even more apprehensive.
“It isn’t a
bomb, is it?”
“Don’t be
silly! You think I would stand here if I had gifted you a bomb?”
That, of
course, made sense. However, memories stirred within my mind of all the gifts he
had surprised, rather shocked me with.
A pair of
plastic lizards which made me scream, a jack-in-the-box which made me almost
jump out of my skin, a beautifully wrapped skull… all these and more had been
thrust on me by my good pal, Rohan!
This time, I
was wiser.
“I refuse to
open this ‘gift’, Ro! I do not trust you one bit. I cannot risk my weak heart anymore.”
“Weak heart,
my foot!” snorted Rohan. “You are the most hard-hearted creature I have ever
come across!” He paused, and then said theatrically,
“Oh, dear
Mona, please open this gift of mine. You will not have reason to distrust me
ever again.”
His posturing
made me smile. I whacked him lightly on his head with the gift and sat down on
the sofa. He promptly sat beside me.
“Now that’s
like a good girl. Open it up, pronto!” His eyes twinkled in the dimness of the
muted light.
I pulled at
the silken ribbon and took my time unwrapping the square box as Rohan waited,
tapping his foot on the floor in impatience. He had always hated the amount of
time I took to unwrap gifts without tearing the wrapping paper.
I opened the
box and peered within. It was a book. I brought it closer to my face and
gasped. It was a book that I had always wanted to buy, but had never been able
to afford.
“Oh, Ro, that’s
so sweet of you. Thank you ever so much.” I hugged him in delight.
Rohan hugged
me back, as he remarked, “Mona, there is another gift under that.” He
pointed to a tiny box that nestled under the book.
“Why are you
feeling so generous today, Ro?” I laughed, even as I lifted the lid of the
smaller box. My words suddenly dried up, as I gazed down at the beautiful ruby
ring that sparkled within. I took it out reverently, and turned to Rohan, a
question in my eyes. Rohan’s eyes were aglow with a strange expression, one
that made my heart skip a beat. Never ever had I seen him look at me thus.
“Mona, please
hold out your hand,” Rohan said, his face turning slightly red.
I did as he
asked, and he gently slid the ring onto my finger, as he whispered into my ear,
“Mona, I love you. I have always done so.”
My heart was
racing as I struggled to control the emotions which threatened to engulf me.
All these years, when Rohan and I had played pranks on each other, I had always
been aware of how I felt about him. My vulnerable heart had been his ever since
I had known him. I could not believe that he too had felt the same about me.
“Mona?” I could
see the uncertainty in his eyes as he waited for me to respond to his words.
I turned to
him, my heart in my eyes as I looked at his loved face.
“Ro, I love
this ring almost as much as I love you, have always loved you.”
His face
reddened further, his eyes turned moist as he took in the words that were so
unexpected.
We sat, gazing
at each other with new eyes. As we moved
closer to each other, the breeze continued to blow gustily outside.
Neither of us
knew when friendship had turned to love, but this moment would be one we would
remember all our lives.
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