29th March

Tall with a slight figure, black-brown hair and dark black eyes, there she stood waiting for one of her friend when our lead character X approaches her. Mesmerized X had been watching the tall girl for quite a number of days now. She had amiable habits, was easy to be with and had a very calm demeanor. Everyone in her vicinity was attracted towards her like iron bits towards an electromagnet, like calcium ions towards nerve endings, like triple positive ions towards cathode. And she stood among her admirers, smiling at them, listening attentively to each word spoken. All this time X was catching and processing, even censuring her every single movement and finding them very near to perfection.

“That’s a long line for the sweet there, I see.”

“Oh! Hi X. It’s really a very long line there. And I think my friend there needs my long hands to procure the sweet for her. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Yeah sure! I may as well go and get myself fed.”

“Come along then. My long hands will be useful for you too.”

“That was a nice way of reminding me of our height difference.”

“There! Everyone sees the truth so easily.”

“You have got just so many admirers. Just look at those two in the corner. They are eyeing me as if I’m snatching away there chocolate bar from under their nose. And the group in the centre table, all of them ready to call me out for a duel.”

“Are you trying to flatter me?”

“No I’m just stating the plain fact.”

“Here, we have everything. Lets go to the table.”

“I see a couple of friends waiting for me to join them. Catch you later.”

“See you then.”

X was trying to concentrate on the newspaper in the adjoining room few minutes later, when the tall girl appeared without her friend. She was on the exit when she turned around to notice the frowning X.

“Is there a rather difficult clue for the crossword today, then?”

“Uh! Oh! No, I wouldn’t know. I have no brain for crossword today.”

“I see your brain leaving your knee and running down towards the ankle this very moment. What’s causing you to frown then?”

“Can’t explain, you see. Some feelings have no words and some others even though are vocal cannot be uttered.”

“I see. And I understand too. I better be on my way then.”

“Can I share a sms with you before you leave? Its very beautiful.”

“Sure.”

“It goes like this

Have you ever liked somebody so much that you feel their absence as soon as they leave?

Have you ever felt the need to hurt yourself physically so that the pain in the heart is subdued?

Have you ever cried to your pillow and slept without having a memory of it, for someone?

Have you ever wanted the time to freeze when someone is around?

If yes, then you have loved someone more than yourself for once.”

“Wow! That was indeed beautiful.”

“You have felt these things for someone, haven’t you?”

“What gives you the notion?”

“I bet it’s the second and the third one.”

“How did you guess?” astonished she asked.

“Your face gave you away.”

“You read faces?”

“Not exactly. I read emotions and can say what a person thinks instantaneously if I ‘m observing real good.”

“That’s great.”

“So whom did you feel these for?”

“Well, both for school friends.”

“Still in contact?”

“Yes, very much so. You felt any of it for anyone?”

“Oh! Yeah! All of them for one person who is in the dining space, and also for another who isn’t in my life anymore.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“No, not in the least.”

“Can you send me the sms? I’d like to keep it in my cell.”

“Sure.”

“There comes my friend. I have to leave. Catch you later in the evening. During tea, I guess.”

“Right. Bye then.”

“Bye.”

This is how their friendship began. The meetings now went on at all free times as they lived close to each other. This continued and still continues today. Boring, isn’t it? No spices, happened in just an afternoon. No clichés, no twists. Nothing just plain talking and that’s it.

But I say “Touch wood, touch gold, touch black. May it remain so for ever.” The story may lack the dramatics, but if they were available in the factual world so freely, who would turn to fiction and where would all the beautiful fairies of various fairy lands go?