Farewell To Dating : Short Story

FAREWELL TO DATING

The street lights flooded in through the glassy curtain walls of the building, highlighting the empty desk in front of me. Rhythmically I continued to tap the pen in my hand against my desk almost like I was trying to hypnotize myself into time-traveling to the first time I set foot in this office. I could feel the palpitations just thinking about my first week here – the dreaded ‘intern walk’ in the corridors, wondering if I would ever get good at anything other than making coffee.

Reminiscing those memories in my head, I sat sprawling in my chair and sluggishly stretched my legs. My eyes wandered around the empty office and landed on the cardboard box placed in the corner with all my stuffs packed in it. And just like that, with a sudden urge of exuberance I sat up straight. I may have stepped in as a freshly minted Architect, feeling out of water in this amazing firm but ‘boy I have come a long way and I should be damn proud of myself’ I thought…

And in a swift movement of self-love I reached and gave myself a pat and proceeded to hug my monitor and said aloud.

“You are the Jarvis to my Iron Man. I am going to miss you terribly….”

Even before I could complete my sentence, a sharp chuckle echoed through the empty office, interrupting the serenity. I jolted out of my trance and chair, and spun around almost immediately. I could feel the blood and embarrassment rushing to my face.

“Jarvis and Iron Man huh ? That’s quite a team” His brash voice doing nothing to hide the sarcasm.

I stood frozen to my spot, watching with bated breath as his smug face emerged from the shadow. The light highlighting his angular face and bright brown piercing eyes, he walked up to me in his usual crisp white shirt and grey trousers with his slick black hair, every strand perfectly in place. I was suddenly aware of my sloppish tee that I had chosen to wear just because it was the first thing that I laid my eyes on when I opened my cupboard this morning. I ran my fingers through my shoulder length messy hair, trying to salvage my appearance.

Balancing himself on my desk, he looked straight into my eyes and said “Sit down, we need to talk”

The light was playing on his face, bouncing off his cheekbones and highlighting his eyes making it hard to concentrate. I phased out to the first time I laid eyes on him back in college. I was having a hard time believing it was four long years ago as it almost felt like he hadn’t aged a day since then.

He waved his hand in front of my face. Making me painfully aware that I had zoned out on him so very obviously.

He continued “Looks like you want to come back after your graduation ?”

“Yes Boss” I said.

Boss ? Sir ? What am I supposed to call him when he hasn’t spoken a word to me ever before ?

He laughed. Another first, I have never seen him do that before. He was the serious one of the two partners. Always rigidly carrying his leather brown case and walking into the conference room to meet the customers. He is a hustler. Everyone worships him. I had watched him from afar with a reverence and here he was, slanting on my desk with his legs crossed.

“Call me Sam” He said casually.

“Okay” I responded flatly.

“How was your experience so far ?” He sounded genuinely interested as he seated himself more comfortably on my desk.

“Awesome” I said “I learnt so much, I couldn’t have asked for anything more than this. I actually wanted to work with you but I never got the chance. My bad.”

“Why me ?” He asked, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

“Because you are the best, everyone worships the ground you walk on” I said rhetorically, there is no way he did not already realize that.

He laughed “Do you ?”

“I would like to learn to be like you” I said kicking myself for being a tad too cheeky.

He looked thoughtful, pausing for a brief minute. “Are you done with your farewell to yourself or is it going to take all night for you to part from your dearest Jarvis ?” He chuckled.

I proceeded to turn around in my chair and meddled with my packed box “Yes, I am leaving” I muttered, disappointment bluntly showing in my voice.

“Let me drop you home” he said.

I turned back startled.

“Whoa whoa” He said “If you are okay with it”

“No no” I said, I had embarrassed myself so much this evening, I would have been a tough competition to tomato.

“I was just surprised you asked” I said, with my inner voice saying, good job covering up, very subtle.

“How else will you get back home with that box ? Looks like you vacated a house” He said walking off into his cubicle.

My eyes followed him. I was kicking myself, why could I not say the right things at the right time ? or impress him more ? or get a job offer ? He seemed to be treating me like I am a teenager.

He came back “ready ?” he asked.

“Yes” I replied, picking up my box and bag.

“Let me get that for you” he said gently, shifting the box from my hand to his, despite my vehement protests.

We walked to the parking lot, left my box in and got into the car.

I sat there silently.

“Seat belt” he said.

Him – a million wins ; Me – a solid zero

“I can’t wait to tell my friends about this” I said

He smiled without a word.

“Everyone knows you in college” I continued, “You are the star alumnus. You started this firm from scratch and you are doing so well, that is remarkable, and ….” I trailed off “You are pretty handsome too”

He laughed out loudly, shaking his head.

“What ?” I said “This is not unethical, I am no longer your employee, remember ?”

“Fair enough” He said.

My monologue predominantly continued till we reached the PG, only to be occasionally interrupted by his monosyllabic replies or acknowledging smiles.

As we reached the PG, he got out of the car and helped me with my box.

“Can I ask you something ?” he nodded affirmatively and I continued “why are you laughing so much today ? I haven’t seen you do that ever before.”

“Last time I checked, laughing wasn’t a crime. Was it ?”

“No. No. It’s just kinda weird.” I said hesitantly.

“Well let’s just say I had a good company ?” he continued swiftly “Okay then, nice talking to you, see you around.”

See you around ? I was thinking, what does that mean ? Anyways, I had made quite an impression already, so I decided to give free reign to my clumsy self.

“I would have shook your hand” I said, shrugging and pointing my chin to my box, “I just vacated a house, you know”

He laughed aloud again. And he bent down from his 6-ft frame to my 5-something and gave me a light hug “Is that good enough ?” He asked.

“Yeah …” I said blushing “see you around, bye” and I hurriedly turned and walked away hiding the timid smile that had etched itself all over my face.

My mind was rushing, I was feeling a million things all at once. And in a split second adrenaline rushed and I decided to take the most brash step of my life till that point. I dropped the box and ran back to him.

He was already inside the car, I knocked on the window. He slid it down with a quizzical expression on his face.

“Can I meet you for lunch tomorrow ?” I mustered all my courage to say that aloud.

“Are you asking me out on a date ?” He asked, for once it felt like he had some red on his cheeks.

“Not really ….” I fumbled “You never gave me a farewell, you know ….”

He looked at me like he was reading my face “Get ready in five” He said

“What ?? Now ??” I shrieked in excitement.

“Is that a problem ?” He asked

“Of course not” I said almost immediately “I’ll be ready in five”

He flashed his dashing smile that reached up to his eyes forming crinkles by his eyes. That smile, that’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. It opened a window into his heart. And as I stooped in to get to know him better, I fell right through, head over heels.

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Acknowledgement

So firstly I need to thank my Co-author Vivilin Gunasingh, she is the best person I have ever worked with and she is my favorite. I learnt a lot and had lot of fun while penning down this short story with her. We did this long distancing co-authoring stuff which was one the best things I have ever done as a writer. The passion and the consistency she has towards writing can even motivate a lazy person like me to work hard. Without Vivilin this short story would’ve stayed in one corner of my head as yet another un-penned plot idea. I’m looking forward to work with her lot more in the future. Let’s just say I can’t wait for it.

Secondly, I need to talk about the cover pages of this short story. We have two cover pages for this particular short story alone that’s because I loved both the covers equally and was utterly confused in picking one. The first cover was made by my so called Digital Marketer Suren Raja who is the best critic of mine and for whom I’m a lab rat. The second cover was illustrated by my beloved sister Mano Annadurai, whom I had tortured endlessly to come up with this cover and she is also my all time brutally honest first rough draft reader. She be my rock solid support system.

Whatever little stuffs I know about Architecture is all because of my best friend Preyankkha Nallaiah which gave rise to our lead characters.

This Jarvis and Ironman thing was inspired by my friend Apurva Sivakumar, who calls her stupid earphone Jarvis. So my dear marvel fans, don’t be angry with me, it’s she who put this idea into my head.

My friends, Petricieyah Arul my fastest proof-reader, I force her into reading all the stupidity I write just to get the readers side feedback and she never complains about it. Dr. Shaheen Begum my first ever co-author as a teenager who can’t stops blushing every time she reads something I wrote. Nethra Srinivasalu and Lakshmanan who blindly support me in whatever I do and deep down they believe I’m worth something but rarely voice that (lol).

Thank you so much guys without you people, I would never have written anything worth reading. You guys are directly or indirectly responsible for the outcome of this short story. THANK YOU!!!

Our first short story Love at First Night which unexpectedly gained a lot of appreciation gave us the confidence to write something new. Thank you for all your support. Hope you guys enjoyed the story as well.

Finally do not forget to let me know how you feel about this short story of ours on the comment session below.

Happy Reading Folks!!

~ Meenu