CHAPTER VIII : AN UNINTENDED ENCOUNTER.
One afternoon, returning from college by the underground as I usually did, I saw Diana at the South Kensington tube station. I think she saw me but walked away and I ran after her. I called her name, she stopped, looked at me, turned and walked on. It was late November and the weather was cold. She wore a dark red coat and scarf covered the rear part of her head and ears and walking away she seemed so forlorn I felt sorry for her. I followed her to the bus stop for Fulham, which was not far, and when she stopped to wait for the bus I approached her and asked about her mother. She is well, thank you, she replied with a tight smile. Please give her my regards. I shall, she said. I would like to tell you how dreadfully ashamed I am for my behavior, I said. There is an explanation. There always is, isn’t there? she said. But no excuse. Yes, definitely no excuse, I said. Please accept my apologies. The bus arrived and she climbed on it without a word. I looked at my watch. It was almost six. The day was Tuesday. Perhaps she always returns home at this time. Perhaps only on Tuesdays. In any case my own hours varied but my Tuesday return home was always the same due to an afternoon lecture. The following Tuesday I hurried from college to the tube and arrived at South Ken a little earlier than the last time. I stood opposite the door of the elevator which disgorges the passengers from the underground. They kept coming, whole armies it seemed, of young and old, students, workers, employees in sloppy clothes and businessmen in neat suits, shiny shoes, bowler hats and umbrellas hurrying home. I stayed and watched and waited for Diana. After an hour I left.
For over a month I spent an hour every Tuesday afternoon between five-thirty and six-thirty freezing in the draft opposite the lift at South Ken station and my doggedness was finally rewarded. As she came out that day she unavoidably came face to face with my anxious gaze. What’s wrong? she asked. Nothing, I said. It’s so nice to see you, Diana. How did you know I was coming? I didn’t, I replied, I was just waiting, hoping to see you. Will you join me for a coffee? Oh go away, she said. Leave me alone. I was annoyed. Had I known you were so high and mighty, so arrogant and unyielding that you have no use for apologies, I wouldn’t have wasted my time waiting outside the elevators. My voice was half a shade louder and face probably screwed up with exasperation. She looked at me and a slow, thin smile formed on her lips. Okay, let’s go for a coffee, she said. We walked silently to the nearest coffee bar which was on the small square a little to the left of the station and was at that time called Sarabia. We sat and ordered two cappuccinos. We were silent for a moment and looked at each other with concealed question marks. It was warm inside and she stood and took off her coat and scarf. A dress with long sleeves did not disguise the adolescent body of a sixteen-year old. She wore a touch of lipstick and eyeliner and looked like a teenager trying to look older. I smiled at her and she said, Well? Well, I repeated mocking her, well, I have started my first year in economics and I usually go home much earlier than today. Oh congratulations, she cut in. Didn’t Annie tell you? I asked. No I avoided the subject George with her. I did not fancy telling her of our very odd romance that never took off and even odder breakup. Well, as I was saying, I continued, I usually go home much earlier except on Tuesdays when I have a lecture late afternoon. That’s when I saw you five or six weeks ago and I have been waiting for you on every Tuesday ever since. My, my, a change of heart, George? Call it what you will. I missed you and wanted to see you. And now that you have seen me do you feel any better? she said sarcastically. Stop being aggressive, Diana. You missed your chance, George. Chance for what, Diana? Whatever. I have a boyfriend now. It doesn’t matter, I said. I am just as happy to see you and talk to you.
That little initiation on my part broke the ice and we talked for a while about my college, her work, her mother, I even asked about Reginald which annoyed her and I asked if I was truly worse than him as she told me that day at the cinema. Well, she answered, you were inexcusable but in many ways Reggie has no equal. May I take this as a compliment? I asked. She laughed. If being a little less odious than an insufferable windbag is a compliment, please yourself. An hour later I accompanied her to the bus stop and asked her if I could meet her same time next Tuesday at South Ken. If you consider it worth your while, okay, she said. And your boyfriend? Stop fishing in muddy waters, George. Just mind your own business. I left her with a feeling of happiness and infinite relief. But why? Why was I so vulnerable with this slim English girl? Why did I feel so oppressed by my past behavior and now so terribly relieved? Omar would have taken it in his stride and thought nothing of it.