Dualities

As he walked down that brightly lit corridor of the mall, His thoughts ventured a few years back in time. Of what was a terrible time to face then Now fitted perfectly into the bigger picture. The answers he had spent years chasing Stood right there in front of his eyes. That beautiful woman and the bespectacled, little girl, trying on outfits at a store a few yards away from him. 

His own little home in the big empty world

He looked, and silently smiled in gratitude

"Hey mister!"

The voice broke his trance. As he turned around, already apologetic for a probable mistaken step, he saw her. Unrecognisable at first but the familiarity about those eyes was unsettling. It wasn't more than a couple seconds that the name flashed in bol in his head. It was her.

"Uh Hi, how have you been?" He blurted with difficulty and a pale face. 

"Very well, you tell me." The smile was back. "Its been long." She continued. 

The face he saw now was quite different from what he had known all these years. The "then" straight hair had now been done up in a casual bun with a tiny speck of vermillion at the top center of the forehead. A pair of spectacles were a new addition reaffirming the workaholic that she was. The red and beige bangles on her arms spoke of a recent marriage. She had lost weight, he noticed. Clad in a black patiala suit with a hint of make up, it was in sharp contrast against the shirts and jeans he remembered her in. He silently looked at her face, her lips moving as she spoke. Yes she looked elegant. She turned her face away to avoid "that" look. He knew. 

But What he noted most prominently, no span of years could take away from her, the twinkle in her eyes. The famous twinkle. 

"Long indeed" He replied almost nervously, "So when did this happen?" He continued to ask. 

"Ohh well I met Akshay about four years ago, we married about an year back"

"Thats nice to know, I wish you the best in life" 

"Same here"

"So are you here with him?"

"Oh no! Just me, regular shopping"

They had never had many words to exchange. A comforting yet awkward silence started to take over. It was broken by the sound of the little girl calling out to him, "Daddy!!" She ran to him, opening her arms as she neared. He held open his arms and lifted her into his arms!! 

"Hi baby" his face lit up like never before. 

Realising the presence of the woman in front of him, he introduced the little girl to the lady.  "This is Nishtha,

Nishtha, say hello to aunty!"

The lady chuckled with a moist eye

"Hi Nishtha, Nice to meet you" she smiled adoringly

The little girl grinned in reply.

"I should probably get going, It felt nice meeting you. Take care"

"Yeah, you take care too"

***

'The idiot had still managed to keep me close to himself' She thought to herself As she walked away from him..

***

"Who was that lady Daddy?"

He closed his eyes and gave his 4 year old daughter a loving peck on the cheek.

"Just a friend baby"