It has been ten months since their last breakup call. A lot of water had flown under the bridge. It was difficult to believe they were ever together. Lockdown was lifted, but pandemic rules remained in effect. Working from home was becoming the new standard. Both appeared to have moved on entirely. At least on the surface, until one late night when Hrishit's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. It was a simple, casual statement, yet it was enough to elicit a flood of emotions.
EP 8 : A Resurrgence of Feelings
Riya: Your natural beauty is shining over
Hrishit: 😁 it’s eternal..
Hrishit: What’s up?
Riya: Same as old. You say whats new?
Hrishit: Same. Busy at work.
Riya: Then is there no time for flirting?
Riya: 😀 Chalo carry on...will talk sometime
Hrishit: Always time for flirting.
Hrishit: Bande dekhe koi?
Riya: Koi nahi...tum kaha flirt karte ho.
Hrishit: I do, but it has seasons too😉
Hrishit: It has winter, rain, and even fall too.
Riya: Yeah, because you are the writer.
Riya: For me, it can be done anytime.
Hrishit: 😊
(Hrishit looks at the screen for a moment, astonished at how quickly they've returned to their lively banter. He hadn't expected to hear from her again, but there she was, as lovely and surprising as always. Just like an electric charge, their ten-month gap had vanished in an instant...)
Riya: Buzz me when you have some time to chat.
Riya: Not necessarily today. Anytime
Riya: It's been long. Nothing purposely chat...just some casual
Riya: I would like to talk to you.
Riya: And don't indulge too much in work.
Riya: Mann kar raha bahot sari baatein karu tumse, but stopping myself..
Riya: This happens to me when I'm drunk.
Riya: Take care, dear.
Hrishit: 😊
Hrishit: Oye, Tu talli hai abhi?
Riya: Yo
Riya: It's an office party. The CEO is here in the city.
Hrishit: Oh, enjoy then. Have a blast!!
Riya: Hmmmm
Riya: You may have fallen asleep.
Riya: A decent guy
Hrishit: No, I haven’t.
Hrishit: A decent guy doesn’t sleep so soon.
Riya: He used to sleep soon.
Hrishit: Time changes, so he does.
Riya: Do people change with time?
Hrishit: Absolutely, people do change with time.
Riya: Is time that powerful?
Hrishit: Most powerful, I believe
Hrishit: Replace ‘change’ with ‘evolve’
Riya: Kyu? I won't... Meri Marzi😜
Hrishit: You can’t. Because you are far tenderer than rock..
Hrishit: Thoda Gyan: When external factors affect you, you change. When change comes from within, you evolve.
Riya: Yaar, this is too heavy to digest.
Hrishit: You’re drunk; that’s why, 😀.
Hrishit: Enjoy the moment!!
Riya: You know what? You are cute.
Hrishit: Oh Teri
Riya: I told you before this, right?
Riya: Kitna sochte ho
Hrishit: I don’t know.
Riya: Acha, tell me one thing only if you want...
Hrishit: Kya
Riya: Pahle jo type karke erase kiya wo likh do😀
(Hrishit hesitates. Should he say what he really typed? Finally, he decides to be honest.)
Hrishit: I wrote, “It’s hard to believe that you still feel even after we stopped talking so long.”
Hrishit: But phir laga zyada ho jayega😜
Riya: I feel what?
Riya: That you are cute?
Riya: C'mon, Harshil, how can you avoid a pretty girl talking to you?
Hrishit: Right on point.
Hrishit: Talli ho ke tumhari sense of humor badh jaati hai😂
Riya: Oye waise bhi acha hai.
Hrishit: Hmmm
Riya: Bolo na
Hrishit: At Indore or your home town?
Hrishit: Oh, sorry, Indore, you told already
Riya: This isn't what I asked you for.
Riya: What do you think I still "feel"?
(Hrishit pauses again. This is where the conversation could take a serious turn.)
Riya: Hey, my apologies if I am bothering you. You can tell if so.
Riya: No force... I don't like to force people.
Hrishit: Nothing; I was preparing for my bed, that's why took some time..
Hrishit: Well, I was referring to the good time we had when we used to talk.
Riya: Tumhe yaad nhi hai that good time?
Hrishit: Of course, yaad hai.
Riya: So mein kaise bhool sakti hoon!
Riya: Of course, there are a few things you will never forget.
Hrishit: True.
Riya: You are the only one with whom I was able to connect easily.
Riya: You are actually a very sorted person.
Hrishit: Aisa tumhe lagta hai. I think I am the most clumsy person you will ever see.
Riya: Tumhe apni taarif achhi nahi lagti?
Hrishit: It’s just that I know the truth.
Riya: Acha, tell me one thing.
Riya: Was I annoying?
Riya: Well, I know, not all the time.
Riya: But sometimes it may be
Hrishit: No, of course not.
Riya: What was the best thing about me?
Hrishit: Your easiness.
Riya: I am easy on what
Hrishit: You are easy to connect with.
Riya: And worst?
Hrishit: I am not a human analyzer who analyzes the best and worst things.
Riya: Offo, again, a thinker! I just asked casually.
Riya: We used to talk a lot, but I guess things have changed now.
Hrishit: Worst to nahi pata.
Hrishit: Based on the communication we had, may be your lack of promptness!
Riya: This isn't right. Don't lie.
Hrishit: Seriously, Worst to Nahi Pata
Riya: Kuch hai hi nahi.
Riya: 😋
Riya: Chalo, you may want to sleep...
Riya: I am in the chatter box today.
Hrishit: Chal see ya.
Hrishit: Good night.
Riya: Hey, Hrishit.
Hrishit: Yeah..
Riya: Shayad kal na bol pau with back to senses.
Riya: I cherished the time spent with you.
Riya: I still miss those days.
Riya: I know it's senseless.
Riya: But I wanted to let you know.
Riya: You were my favorite!
(Hrishit feels a lump in his throat. He didn’t expect this. He types his response slowly, choosing each word carefully.)
Hrishit: I cherished the time too. It was special for me as well.
Hrishit: and you were my favourite too, 💕.
Riya: 😊
Riya: Take care, sweetheart.
Riya: Sleep tight and don't let the bad bug bite.
Hrishit: 😊 sweet dreams
[ To be Continued..]
