I got ready on his insistence, he drove me to work encouraging me all the way. There was this very strange feeling consuming me, an uneasiness which I could not explain nor understand. I knew it was not fear nor nervousness whatever it was, it was getting too strong because I was hyperventilating. Rahul tried to calm me down but I just couldn’t relax myself (a feeling of an impending disaster was very very powerful). To distract me he started off again.
“Hey, you asked me a question which I did not answer for obvious reasons.”
“Huh, which question.”
“Oh, whether I wanted a boy or a girl.”
“Oohh, that one.” Hearing the question helped divert my mind though the restless beat of my heart and mind continued
“So what do you want husband dear?”
“When we have our first I want it to be a girl, just like you.
Naughty, temperamental, impulsive and adorable.”
“Hey, typical filmy reply. Should have known. But you know what I agree, I too want a girl. But she should be your replica with your mysterious smile, dimples in her cheeks, in short smarty pants. She should be you only with the gender change” I said this with straight face but a naughty wink. “Why would you say a girl, I thought women normally were partial to boys? And anyway, I have the dibs on the girl. You can’t choose the same. Where is the winner?”
“Huh, what nonsense are you talking? Dibs, winner. Have you lost your marbles?”
“Stupid I mean you know you choose boy and I girl, so when the baby comes we know who got their wish. You know the typical marital bickering.”
“Good lord Rahul, you really are going crazy. And no 89
there will be no dibs and all because we both want the same thing, a girl. Now what we need is me getting pregnant and us discussing names and all. Not dibs and no competition nothing, okay buster.”
“Yayayaa, anyways that was stupid talk to calm you and I succeeded, so job done.”
It is then I realise we have reached the office and he was parking out. I look at him with love and gratitude.
“You know you are the best, don’t you? I love you to the moon and back. And I think Rahil would be the perfect name for our baby (wink).”
“Wow darling that’s saying a lot and yes I do know I am the best. And Rahil, wow seems you have been thinking names since long, huh.”
“No just came to me right now.”
“Okay we will discuss this further later. Now just go I will see you in sometime.”
As I am about to close the door shut he calls out again.
“You know I love you more always (winks). Go kick ass.” And giving a quick kiss he left.
Rahul promised to pick me in an hour, so I rushed in to finish with whatever it was that they had called me for.
There was lot of noise coming from the adjacent building as usual, well it was a new building being constructed so it was kind of expected. Some of the labourers were taking a break when out of nowhere a brick fell, missing me by the inch.
I shouted at the workers telling them to be careful as that was the third or fourth time in weeks when their carelessness could have seriously injured someone.
They vaguely shouted their apologies while continuing with 90
their tea. Thinking and planning to file a complaint against them and their carless, casual attitude was on my mind when I entered the office.
As I entered the office the atmosphere was very quiet and depressing making me wish I was already back home with Rahul in our balcony loveseat. While I walk up to the bosses expecting my termination letter I was wonderfully surprised with a confirmation letter along with a raise (now that thrilled me to bits considering all our plans). The bosses were not only very apologetic, they accepted that they handled the situation badly because they were under extreme pressure after demonetisation. My colleagues who were listed with me too got their jobs except for the new employees. With the official confirmation in hand, an apology for the extreme stress caused I was ready to celebrate with my man. We opened a bottle of bubbly, realising the time and how late I was, I took my leave thanking the bosses, saying bye to all my dearies, I rushed out to meet Rahul.
He was parked right next to the construction site with my favourite lilies and chocolates in his hand as he had said he would be (oh the chocolate and flowers were a surprise addition). Seeing him standing there I start waving my letter, shouting and dancing with happiness when a loud sound distracted me. I looked up to see a huge boulder falling towards where Rahul was standing. I shouted for him to move away all the while running towards him, but he didn’t understand due to the loud noise from the construction site. He kept looking at me trying to understand 91
my frantic running and shouting. I think he was just about to move to get to me when the boulder fell near him hitting him hard at the back of his head knocking him down to the ground.
There was a loud sound of metal getting squashed, terrifying shouts from bystanders, blood spreading around, flowers splashed with blood strewn all over the place and me on my knees with my hands still stretched out inches from Rahul shouting but now with no sound coming out.
Hearing the commotion my colleagues and bosses came out to inspect, they took in the whole scenario and ran toward me reaching me as fast as they could. They tried earnestly to get me up and away but my muscles were locked like my voice, my eyes kept seeing Rahul, I just couldn’t move away. There was a lot of hustle bustle going on around me, someone called for the ambulance, someone called the cops and some friend of mine even called my parents. But I knew for me life had stopped at that point just like life had seeped out of Rahul leaving me in darkness all alone forever.