“Something important has come up!”
SOMETHING IMPORTANT
She couldn’t get the words out of her head. Sleep had eluded her for some days. She kept tossing, and turning but to no avail. She could sense that her actions were disturbing her husband who was almost in the slumbers of sleep, the snoring was just about to start. She knew this out of habit now, after all, she’d been married nearly 20 years to him.
She removed her blanket from her legs and tied her hair into a bun, a habit formed over the years. Silently she crept into her study room, a room that was her guilty pleasure, where she worked from and from where she sat and transported herself into the magical world of books. She tried to pick up her favourite book to ease her jumpy heart, but even ‘The Alchemist’ didn’t have a solution for her tonight.
She sat on the swing chair and shut her eyes, as soon as she did her mind immediately replayed the conversation that had rendered her sleepless.
She couldn’t contain her excitement. After nearly a year, she was returning to Bombay, her hometown. Not, that she lived far, technically a mere 4 hours away (3 if traffic was on your side), but the trips to Bombay had become less frequent, thanks to her kid’s schooling schedule. A book meet event on a Saturday afternoon, which co-incidentally worked out in her favour was responsible for her current trip.
She caught the Friday evening train and was extremely happy to be reunited with her parents. They say, however old you become, you will always be a child for your parents. The pampering, the love, and the attention were something she craved for since she herself became a mother and was on the giving end of the same. She missed the pampering and love herself. Not, that she didn’t get it from her husband or kids, but maybe not the way she would want to receive it. She was an extroverted introvert in the truest sense. Always vocal and helpful to others, she often got hurt and neglected herself.
After a hearty breakfast with her parents, she took a shower and started getting ready for her book club meeting. Her hair cascaded till her shoulders and her crown area had started graying. Thanks to the numerous hair colouring options available, she had got a root touch up done and looked as good as new. She was a simple, no-frills girl who enjoyed spending time in the company of her friends and loved ones. When comfortable and in her element, she was a firecracker and the liveliest, the most fun person to hang out with, the opposite was also true. When she was uncomfortable or not happy with the people around or her surroundings, she would withdraw into her shell. For her make-up simply meant lipstick, an eye-liner, and her favourite kajal or kohl. She was an attractive woman would be an understatement, fair-skinned, average height, medium built with a c-section tummy hanging on to her otherwise perfect frame, she was pretty unbeknownst of her own beauty. She always felt eyes on her when she entered the room and was told it was her aura and her smile. Her smile had won her loads of compliments; even from strangers. She was grateful for all the affection and love she garnered and never let it get to her head. She was always humble and down to earth, even on the rare occasions when she dressed to slay.
She had her fair share of suitors right since her puberty; in school and later on in college. Her parents were her friends, but they were equally strict and disciplinarians. She knew her boundaries and never let any relation culminate into more than friendship. She had her own crushes for sure but they lay hidden in the depths of her heart. She thought, “If I can’t walk the path and lead the relation to a name, there’s no point in encouraging anyone”.
After her college final year, her parents got her engaged and within 6 months marriage followed. She never got the chance to fully explore those hidden crushes or relationships that might have blossomed. Life moved quickly, and soon she was a wife, then a mother, her days filled with responsibilities, schedules, and routines. But the one person who always occupied her thoughts and stayed in her heart was Mayank. She hadn't thought of him in years, not consciously at least, but his name always kept surfacing in her mind, must be the Bombay magic after all he would be somewhere in the city. Brushing aside thoughts of Mayank she tried to focus on the book club meeting. She had met with her online and offline friends, laughed and bonded over bookish chats, and after an amazingly well-spent afternoon whilst returning to her mom’s place, she decided to stop at Fort and buy some books from her favourite spot. Just as she was done with her purchase and she started walking towards her bus stop, when she bumped into him in the crowded streets of Fort, the business hub of Mumbai. It was as if fate had orchestrated this moment, bringing them together on the bustling streets of Bombay, where time had seemingly stood still.
“Mayank?” She gasped; her voice tinged with disbelief.
He was on a call and as soon as their eyes met, he said on the cell," I have to go, something important has come up.”
“Zannn. What are the chances?”, his voice as warm as she remembered, saying so he put forward his palm to greet her. Zannn, that was the way he always called her, right since the first day of college when they first met. In fact, he never called her by her given name and no one else ever called her Zannn, it was like this name was exclusively reserved by Mayank for her. His eyes kept scanning her face as though trying to decode the last twenty-five years.
She couldn’t help but smile back, her heart racing. “I know, right? It’s been so long. How have you been?”
Mayank nodded, still smiling as if he too couldn’t believe the coincidence. “I’ve been good. Life’s been… well, life. And you?”
“Good, good,” she replied, though her mind was spinning. How did one sum up years of life in a single word? Especially when so much had changed.
There was a moment of silence between them, the noise of the city a mere backdrop to the whirlwind of thoughts running through her head. They were standing on a crowded street in Fort, but it felt like they were in their own little bubble, where time and space didn’t matter.
“So, what brings you here?” Mayank asked, breaking the silence.
She held up the small bag of books she had just purchased. “I was just at a book club meet, and I couldn’t resist stopping by my favourite old bookstore. And you?”
He gestured to the tall building behind them. “My office is in that building. This street is my daily commute.”
She smiled and said, “It’s good to see you again, Mayank. Really, it is.”
“You too,” he replied, his eyes softening. “We should catch up properly sometime. Maybe, over coffee? It feels like there’s a lot to talk about.”
She agreed, and they exchanged numbers, promising to meet soon. As they parted ways, she felt a strange mix of emotions—excitement, nostalgia, and a touch of anxiety. What did this encounter mean? For the first time in a long time, she felt restless, like she was on the brink of something but didn't know what. What did she want for herself, beyond the roles she played in her family? The phrase "something important" echoed again in her mind. Those words made her feel so important and wanted. It had been long since anyone gave her that much of importance, that respect, when someone shut their call conversations to just be with her. Was it just a random coincidence, or was it a sign that something in her life was about to change? She had a good life, a loving husband, beautiful children, and yet, here she was, sitting in the dark, haunted by the past.
The last time she had seen Mayank was at their college farewell. They had shared a bittersweet moment, knowing they were going in different directions, but she had always sensed there was something unspoken between them, something that could have been, if life had taken a different turn.
She knew she couldn't keep ignoring the unresolved feelings within her. They weren't just about Mayank; they were about her own sense of self, her own happiness. For too long, she had pushed aside her own desires, focusing solely on her family, on being the perfect wife and mother. But now, she realized that she needed to reclaim a part of herself that she had lost along the way. She sent Mayank a message, suggesting they meet for coffee that weekend. His response was immediate and enthusiastic, and they agreed on a café which was their college hangout spot.
The day of the meeting, she felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation as she got ready. She reached Bombay on Friday like before and was a heap of emotions by Saturday morning. She chose a simple outfit, something that made her feel comfortable yet confident. As she looked in the mirror, she reminded herself that this was just a meeting between old friends, nothing more.
But as she walked into the café and saw Mayank sitting at a corner table, a warm smile on his face, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a casual reunion. Something was different, something had shifted, and she wasn’t sure what it was.
They greeted each other warmly, the initial awkwardness quickly dissolving as they slipped into easy conversation. They spent the next hour catching up on life, talking about everything from work to family. She told him about her kids, her life in the new city and learned that he had never married and stayed at the same place she remembered with his parents.
In the midst of their conversation, Mayank asked, “Is it just me or was there still something left between us.” His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mayank sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know it’s been a long time, and I know we both have our own lives now. But back in college, I always felt like there was something unfinished between us. I never had the courage to say anything then, and I’ve always wondered what could have been if I had.”
She stared at him, her mind racing. This was the conversation she had never expected, the one she had never allowed herself to imagine. And yet, here it was, laid out in front of her.
He continued, “I’m not here to disrupt your life or mine. But I had to tell you because I couldn’t keep wondering ‘what if.’ If nothing else, I just needed to know that I tried, that I said what I couldn’t say all those years ago.”
She sat back in her chair, taking in his words. They both fell silent for a moment, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air.
“What do we do now?” She asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Mayank looked at her, his expression gentle but resolute. “That’s up to you. We can leave it at this, with both of us knowing that we’ve finally said what needed to be said. Or we can see where this conversation takes us. I’m open to either.”
She didn’t know how to respond. The safe, predictable life she had known for so long was suddenly colliding with the past, with possibilities she had long since dismissed.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke. “Mayank I’m glad you told me. I needed to hear it too. But I don’t have an answer for you right now. I need time to think.”
He nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. We can decide what we want for our future, whether that means continuing our lives as they are or allowing ourselves to be open to new possibilities.”
They parted ways with a promise to talk again, once she had sorted through her thoughts and feelings. The encounter was a blessing in disguise as it had opened up questions, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face, but she knew one thing for certain: her life was no longer on autopilot. Something had shifted, and whatever came next, she would face it head-on.
In the days that followed, her thoughts were consumed by the conversation with Mayank. She replayed his words over and over, trying to make sense of the emotions they stirred within her. She hadn’t told anyone about their meeting, not even her closest friends or her husband. It felt too personal, too raw to share just yet.
She knew she had to make a choice, but the thought of rekindling an old connection, of seeing where it might lead, was both thrilling and terrifying. But then there was her family, the life she had built over the years. Her husband was a good man, kind, and dependable, someone she loved and respected. Her children needed her, and the thought of disrupting their lives filled her with dread.
She wasn’t sure if the feelings she had for Mayank were real, or if they were just a product of nostalgia, a longing for something that might never have existed. She had built up an image of him in her mind over the years, but could that image stand up to the reality of who they were now?
That evening, she asked her husband if they could go for a walk after dinner. It was something they hadn’t done in a long time, caught up as they were in the routine of everyday life. He agreed, sensing that she had something on her mind.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” She began, her voice steady but soft.
He looked at her with concern but didn’t interrupt, waiting for her to continue.
“Last week, when I was in Bombay, I ran into someone… an old friend from college. His name is Mayank.”
Her husband nodded; his expression neutral. “Okay,” he said, encouraging her to go on.
“We were close back then, though nothing ever happened between us. But seeing him again… it brought back a lot of old memories and feelings. He told me that he needed closure, or maybe to see if there was still something between us.”
She paused, searching his face for a reaction. He was quiet, listening intently.
“I’m telling you this because I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. I’ve been struggling with what to do, with how to move forward. I care about you, about our family, more than anything. But I also don’t want to live with regrets.”
Her husband took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions—surprise, hurt, but also understanding.
“Thank you for telling me,” he said after a long pause. “I can’t say this doesn’t hurt, because it does. But I also know that we’ve been married a long time, and we’ve been through a lot together. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you, because I love you. But I hope you’ll remember what we’ve built together, and what’s at stake.” As they walked back home, she felt a sense of clarity starting to emerge. She knew now that whatever decision she made, it would be one made with honesty.
In the days that followed, she continued to reflect on her feelings, weighing the past against the present. And slowly, she began to realize that the life she had now, with all its imperfections and challenges, was the life she wanted to hold on to. The past would always be a part of her, but it didn’t have to dictate her future.
When she finally called Mayank to meet again, it was with a clear heart and a resolved mind. They sat in the same café, but this time, the conversation was different. She thanked him for being honest, for helping her to confront feelings she hadn’t even known she was carrying. But she also told him that her place was with her family, that she couldn’t risk what she had built over the years for a chance at something that might never be.
Mayank listened quietly, understanding in his eyes. “I’m glad you found your answer,” he said softly. “And I’m grateful that we had this conversation. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
With that, they parted ways, this time for good. When she returned home that evening, her husband greeted her with a smile, and as she stepped into the warmth of their home, she knew she had made the right choice and her past was behind her. There were no regrets or doubts.