Reflection

A Short Story

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“I think we should stop meeting” She told me sitting on the park bench

“Why?” I looked at her half smiling, half confused

“Because you don’t need me anymore”

“And why do you think that way”

“Because you have her”

“No, I don’t”

“Yes! you do and you don’t need me anymore”

“I would always need you. You know that”

“With her around, you won’t even remember me” I knew she was teasing me

“Come on! I don’t think she is interested”

“I can tell” She was pretty confident

“How?”

“Woman can tell!”

“Oh Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“So do you think she interested?”

“Oh! So you are interested?” She teased him

“Come on! Don’t play with me!” I felt a little embarrassed. “I am serious”

Its not everyday that I agree to what she said. Call it male ego. I did not want her to be right. This time I wanted her to be right, desperately.

“I think so” She said after much thinking. “I mean the way she talks, behaves with you, you get a good idea”

I had that sheepish grin on my face, the one you get when at the age of 8, you know there is a birthday party organized for you.

“Are you sure?” I asked. It gave me goose bumps to listen to it again and again.

“What? You want to hear it again?” She chided me

“Not really! But just wanted to be sure”

“Ok. I think she is interested, not in love but interested.”

“ummmm”

“What?”

“Nothing! Just maybe feeling happy about it”

“Ummmm! That’s why I said you don’t need me”

“Come on!”

“Don’t you ‘come on’ me. It was bound to happen one day”

I sat there not knowing what to say.

“But you will remain my best friend” I said, rather apologetically.

“Of course!” She responded rather sarcastically.

“Think of the devil..” She looked at the park gate.

I looked at the direction and there ’she’ was. The bouncing hairs, the swinging hips, the radiant smile; how could someone not fall for her? I always hoped, I was the only one who fell for her? Did not want competition from anyone else. Never had a edge in these matters anyways. As ’she’ came near, she whispered in my ears

“Have you noticed that ’she’ never acknowledges my presence?”

“Shhhhhhhh” I put my best smile possible

“Hi!” She smiled at me

“Hi” I had that sheepish grin again.

“You know what? I am so happy today”

“Oh that’s good. Hope it’s a good reason”

“Oh yes! You know the captain of our office football team?”

“Yes” the warning bells were ringing. I somehow did not see any good news for me

“He asked me out” She was so excited

Of course! No good news for me.

“I was so happy. I wanted to tell someone so badly and who better than you” She was all excitement bubbling inside. I managed a dry smile trying genuinely to look as happy as possible.

“Hey! Got to go! See you soon. I am so happy”

“Yeah! Sure! Bye”

She walked back to the gate. We both looked at her.

“She is not going to come back, is she?” I finally managed to ask

“I don’t think so” She said softly. “Sorry buddy”

“Its alright! Had to happen one day”

“I told you she never acknowledges my presence”

I looked at her, smiled “Of course not! She does not see you at all. Nobody can see you except me”

“Yeah! I hate being somebody’s figment of imagination. I want be her. So real”

“Yes! Real! She was real, wasn’t she? So real and she even breaks my heart like a real person” I was in my self-pity mood “You know why I liked her so much, she was a reflection of you and as real as I wanted you to be”

“Is that a compliment for me?” She teased

“No it’s a compliment for her” I smiled back.

“Thank you! She’s gone but you made my day. Anyways I like your imagination. I look pretty good”

“Yes! She is gone and as you said you will go too. How will I live now?”

“I am not going. Not yet! You need me. Atleast for some more time”

I nodded in agreement sitting there alone on the park bench.