Once upon a time

Short stories 4

It was a usual day when Riya was coming back to her home from the office. She was waiting in the bus stand to get the bus. She saw that a girl came in a hassle and stood just behind her. Soon a queue was formed. The girl was on her phone busy speaking to someone. Riya was listening to her conversation as there was no better option for her. Unlike most office goers she avoids listening to music on her journey from home to office and visa vis.

That girl was speaking to her mother and from the conversation, Riya came to know that she is about to get married next week and therefore was asking her mother to come to a popular shopping mall and was, therefore, telling her to make a list of things to buy. She was speaking to her mom that she wants to buy a watch for Rohit. After hearing few more conversation Riya now knew Rohit is the groom. Riya actually wants to turn around to see the face of the girl properly whose conversation she was eavesdropping for almost half an hour. Though the voice seemed known to her from the very beginning.

The queue started to move and everyone started to enter the bus to take up their seats as available. The girl sat just beside Riya. Riya now looked at her properly and remembered she is none other than the girl she used to hate a lot. She was Natasha who was the reason behind Riya’s breakup with her boyfriend in college days. It has been seven years since then. Perhaps Natasha too recognized her as she quickly lowered her head to avoid further eye contact.

Since Riya was sitting beside the window seat she too turned her face towards the window views.

Natasha hanged her phone. It was an awkward moment of silence. Natasha and Riya used to share a good friendship before that incidence.

The guy who ditched Riya after 5 years of relationship for Natasha also ditched Natasha for some another girl within a year of their relationship. Riya came to know about this from some of their common friends but got confirmed unknowingly by hearing her conversation that day.

Riya somehow didn’t feel anything neither happy nor sad as she perhaps always knew this was going to happen.

After four stops Riya got up to reach the bus door to get down. As the bus stopped and the gate opened Riya looked towards Natasha, she was too staring at her and then the seven years long silence broke with an exchange of a smile.

© Anushka Ghosh
Lovestruck # @satire ♡♡