Page 134 of 12 Years

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‘Take the lift down and turn left. You’ll find the transit hotel. Show them your boarding pass and they’ll assign you a room.’

‘Sure,’ Payal said.

‘Sir, you can come with me now. I’ll help you exit immigration and leave the airport.’

‘Yes, sure,’ I said.

Was this it? Was this goodbye? I knew this meeting would end, but did it have to be this abrupt?

I collected my bag. Payal hoisted her laptop bag onto her new trolley bag. Was she going to say anything? Should I?

‘That’s it then. Time to say bye,’ I said.

‘Huh?’ she said, surprised. ‘Is it?’

‘Yes. We both go our own way now,’ I said.

In this airport. And in life.

‘It was nice to see you again,’ Payal said.

‘Same here,’ I said. ‘It’s good to know that you’re doing well, and that you’re happy.’

‘I’m glad that you’ve achieved so much as well. And that you’re happy.’

Who said I was happy? Where did you get that idea?

‘Yes, indeed. I’ve a lot to be grateful for,’ I said.

She nodded.

I would’ve said ‘stay in touch’ or ‘see you soon’, but I knew that wasn’t an option.

‘I’m still blocked, by the way,’ I said.

‘What?’ Payal looked puzzled. ‘Where?’

‘Everywhere. Facebook. Instagram. Even WhatsApp. Though I think you changed your number long back, right?’

‘What number of mine do you have?’ she said.

I opened my phone and showed her the number I had. Her name was still saved as Payal, with a heart emoji next to it. Damn, why did I still have that emoji?

‘Oh, this number is old. Sunita didi has it now,’ she said.

‘Yes, I know that,’ I said.

She looked at me, somewhat confused. ‘Anyway, here’s my new number.’

I saved the number she gave me this time as ‘Payal New’—no emoji.

‘I just unblocked you on Instagram and Facebook as well.’

‘You did?’

‘It’s just silly now. We’ve all moved on, haven’t we?’

‘Yeah, true,’ I said.

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