Chitra was standing at the Garia bus stand when a male voice called out her name—"Chitra!"
Looking at the elderly man standing right behind her, Chitra asked in a voice tinged with surprise, "Who is it?" Recognizing him a moment later, she added, "Oh, Uncle!"
The elderly man asked, "How are you, my child?"
Lowering her voice, Chitra replied, "I'm fine. Is everyone at home doing well, Uncle?"
With a peaceful tone, the man said, "Yes, everyone is healthy. Why don't you visit us anymore? Are you very busy these days?"
Just as Chitra was about to say something, a young man around 27 or 28 years old came up to the man and said, "Father! You, out here in this heat..."
Seeing Chitra, the young man stopped mid-sentence. He turned to her and asked, "Hey, how are you?"
Chitra replied in a low voice, "I'm good, Neel Da."
Neel lived in Chitra's neighborhood. He was the definition of "perfect"—always the first person to stand by someone in times of trouble. But that wasn't the point. The point was that Chitra loved Neel deeply. She had even told him so, but Neel had never thought of her that way. He had made that very clear to her.
The memory of those words still pained Chitra to this day.
As Neel was about to say something more, Chitra interrupted, "I'll be going now, Uncle."
She started to walk away when Neel literally ran after her and said, "Chitra! Are you going home? Come on, I'll drop you off."
This time, Chitra raised her voice. "No! I won't be able to ride on your expensive bike."
Neel tried to reason with her, "Chitra, are you still angry? Look, we can be great friends, but not life partners. You are a very good girl; I am the one who is bad."
In a sharp yet calm tone, Chitra replied, "Forget all that. I'm not going home anyway. I have an interview to attend and I'm getting late. Goodbye, Neel Da."
Chitra walked away, perhaps not noticing that Neel remained standing there as she left.
A full month passed.
Today, Chitra arrived at Neel's house with a packet of sweets in her hand. She bowed to touch Neel's mother's feet and said, "Auntie, I might not come here again. But if I do, please make those handmade naru (sweets) for me next time."
Wiping tears from her eyes, Neel's mother said, "Stay well, child. Sit down, let me ask Neel to get your favorite ice cream."
Chitra said, "You stay here, Auntie. I'll go and call Neel Da."
Chitra went upstairs and knocked on Neel's door. "May I come in?"
Neel looked at her and said, "You're asking for permission today? You never used to do that before."
Chitra replied calmly, "Is everything still the same as before? Anyway, I came to tell you something."
Neel asked, "What is it?"
In the same steady voice, Chitra said, "I got the job, Neel Da. I'll be leaving for Pune within a week."
Hearing those words, Neel felt a strange, sharp pang in the left side of his chest. He couldn't say much; he only managed to ask, "When is your train?"
Standing right in front of him, Chitra said, "Wednesday. Can I ask for one last request, Neel Da?"
Neel replied indifferently, "What is it?"
Chitra said, "Can I hug you one last time? I know... maybe that's asking too much. Never mind."
As she turned toward the door, Neel grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest.
Burying her face in Neel's chest, Chitra wept. "I have always wanted the best for you. I still want you to be happy—whether it's with me or without me."
With those words, she pulled herself away and left.
Two days later, at night, Neel and Chitra ran into each other in front of Babla Da's grocery store. Chitra was about to leave with her bags when Neel called out, "Chitra, wait! I need to talk to you."
Chitra turned around. Neel walked right up to her and said, "I'm sorry for my behavior. I shouldn't have rejected you that day. I should have told you this much earlier... I was scared, believe me. I thought I would lose you too, that I'd lose a friend. That's why I didn't tell you that it's not just you—I love you just as much. Believe me, I wouldn't have said it even today, but the fear of losing you forced me to speak."
Neel took Chitra's hands in his. But what was this? There were tears in Chitra's eyes.
Wiping her tears, Neel said, "Take as much time as you need, but please don't leave me."
Chitra replied, "I never wanted to leave you. You forced me to. It's no longer possible for me to stay here. I really need this job. Goodbye, Neel Da. Stay well."
"Farewell."
With that, Chitra walked away. Neel stood in front of the grocery store, watching Chitra leave until her figure slowly faded into the distance.