Page 41 of 12 Years
I typed out ‘Hey, everything okay?’ while sitting at the dining table. But I didn’t press send. It sounded too desperate. I deleted it.
Should I just call her? No. What if she was still at her parents’ house, where boys were banned? She could get into trouble. Maybe it was better to just double-text.
‘U there?’ I typed and pressed send.
No reply for thirty long minutes.
‘Just want to know you’re okay.’ Triple-text, an hour later.
‘You haven’t replied all day. Was getting worried.’ Quadruple-text, two hours later.
This time, I saw the typing notification on her WhatsApp chat window. Okay, clearly, she was alive. And typing out a reply. But then she stopped typing. Then she started again. My eyes remained glued to my phone screen.
‘Hi,’ she replied.
That’s it? After so many hours and quadruple-texts later, that’s all she has to say?
‘Hey there,’ I replied instantly. ‘There you are. What’s up?’
‘Just came back to Parel. About to go to bed.’
‘How was lunch at your parents’ house?’
‘Good.’
‘You didn’t message all day.’
‘Sorry, was tied up.’
Even on chat, I could sense her coldness.
‘Everything okay?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You didn’t respond all day. And even now, you sound distant.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You sure?’
She took a few minutes before responding. ‘I’m not okay with what happened.’
My heart sank. ‘You mean the whole evening? Aer, Bandstand, everything?’
‘No, all that was fine. But whatever happened at your place.’
‘What’s the matter, Payal?’
‘I know it happened in the heat of the moment. And it seemed okay then. But I’m not okay with all that now. The rest is fine. We can be friends.’
We can be friends?
Her words hit me like a jackhammer. One night ago, I was the first man she’d ever kissed. Less than twenty-fours later, I was being friend-zoned? What the hell happened? I couldn’t figure this out over chat.
‘May I call you?’ I said.
‘No. I’m tired. Have work tomorrow.’
