ONLY YOU

                        Episode 2 -  The Wait 

Like every Saturday morning, my friends shouted from below, “Rajesh! Come down!” I was excited, not for the cricket match, but for the chance to see her again. As we walked to the ground, my friends chattered endlessly, but my eyes scanned the streets for a glimpse of Asha.

During the match, while fielding, the batsman hit a ball straight toward me. Everyone yelled, “Rajesh, catch it! Catch it!” But my mind was elsewhere, replaying her graceful smile and pink saree. My hands trembled, my lips quivered, and I dropped the ball.

After the game, my friend Manmohan approached me. “Where’s your mind, Rajesh? You were biting your lips, your eyes weren’t on the ball. Are you okay?”

I forced a laugh. “It’s totally fine, my friend,” I said, brushing it off.

Never in my life had I dreaded a weekend so much. For the first time, I longed to return to the bank. That weekend felt like the longest 48 hours I’d ever endured.

Finally, Monday arrived. I woke earlier than usual, took a long bath in the backyard, and chanted my prayers longer than ever. I wore my favorite brown suit with a sky-blue shirt and headed to the bank, brimming with energy. My colleagues stared, puzzled by my enthusiasm—unusual for a typically serious, traditional Indian man.

I called the peon repeatedly for cups of tea to calm my nerves. With each person in the queue, I searched for her face. But as the line dwindled, so did my hope. By the end of the day, I felt foolish. Why would a woman who withdrew 5,000 rupees just three days ago return so soon?

Dear readers, do you think he will be able to find her?