A Collection Of Short Stories

Kunj had come to Darjeeling to enjoy a good summer vacation, which he had managed to secure after a lot of hard work, all with himself alone. The previous year had been quite tough on him. His father had passed away and his girlfriend who had been with him for the past six years left him to be with some music show winner.

This vacation was his time to get over the losses of the past and begin afresh. It was a bright sunny morning which didn't affect the cold weather of Darjeeling. He had spent the whole week trekking, rafting, visiting zoological parks and sacred edifices. A couple of days were left before he would leave the sublime place and go back to his busy life.

That day's plan was to visit the markets and do some shopping. Before he begun with the plan he stopped by a coffee shop to induce some hot caffeine into his body. He sat there peacefully sipping on his cup of coffee looking at the people around him who like him had come there to have a good vacation. His eyes suddenly stopped at a woman who was looking at him. He ignored her thinking, it might just be the direction and not him in particular. After sometime he found her still looking at him.

She was a slender woman of around his age, twenty seven. Bright eyes and shoulder length hair, looking like any ordinary woman but what made her standout was her continuous staring at him. He finished his coffee all the while suppressing his urge to question her about the intentions behind her constant staring.

He paid the bill and while leaving saw the woman still staring at him. She had successfully ruined his day. The more he thought about her, the more familiar her face seemed. He could not focus on anything else that day other than her, a familiar looking woman of his age staring at him. He had better asked her, he regretted.

DAy 2

The next day he woke up with a determination that if he finds the woman again he would question her, even if she doesn't stare at him. He quickly got ready and reached the coffee shop, she was already there.

She was staring at him but after he saw her he started to rethink his decision of confronting her. He walked to the counter and ordered a coffee. While returning to his table he took the path near the woman's table so that he could have a close look at her face. This might help him remember her. But of no use.

While he was waiting for his coffee he saw her again looking at him with full confidence. Even if he caught her looking at him, she would not look away. He noticed that the coffee shop had partnered with some brand and they were setting up a 'trust-fall' game outside to attract customers. A good advertising move.

When his order arrived he had a last look at the woman who was still staring at him, dreamingly like the previous day. He thought something, instantly looked up and started staring at her with the same intensify as hers, while sipping on his coffee. If the game had to be played this way, he thought.

Till the time he had finished his coffee, the staring competition between them had jumped to the next level. This small competition didn't go unnoticed by some of the people sitting around but who cared. What mattered then was who wins. Suddenly an ear to ear smile broke out on her face. With narrowed eyes and kitted eyebrows she smiled happily at him and then looked away from him, at her cup of coffee. A victory for Kunj.

He took this as a sign and went to her.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" he said politely followed by "It's just that I noticed you observing me. Is there something I can help you with?"

"You haven't changed. Hiding a jerk under that handsome face and bewitching voice.", she said in a sarcastic teasing tone.

"Please have a seat Kunj. I would love to have your company.", she said bluntly yet with a smile. Her voice seemed familiar and she knew his name, the curiosity to know her identity made Kunj take a seat opposite her.

"So, you don't remember me?", she said raising an eyebrow at him. And that was it, his memory had identified the person sitting infront of him.

"Prerna?", he asked for her conformation.

"You do remember me.", she says making a satisfied face.

Prerna , she had a huge crush on him since their eleventh grade. She had confessed her feelings for him online on some social media, when they were in the second year of college. He had blocked her on all social media accounts then, on his girlfriend's request. He had met her only two to three times in person. She was very bold with her sarcastic replies always at the tip of her tongue. That made a big part of her personality then and now too ,it seemed.

"You know, I am not ashamed of eyeing you like a pervert even in a public place.", she said flashing an award winning smile.

"Even after ten years.", he added.

"Correct.", she nodded in approval, all this time she had a perfect corporate smile maintained on her face. A true businesswoman indeed.

"So, how have you been?", he asked curiously because the Prerna he knew ten years back was so different than the one he sat infront of now. Prerna then was a chubby girl, walking around with books , messed up hair and 'dare to interfere' attitude. The one sitting infront of him now, was slim, looking like some model out from the cover of a magazine and had an attractive smile on the whole freaking time. To be honest, she looked gorgeous now.

"Quite well. What about you? What have you been up to?", she asked. She had always tried to be at least a good friend of him then, pity that she could not. She did move on later, but the previous day when she saw him at this coffee shop she was back to her old self who loved him and stalked the shit out of him.

"Last year was a quite rough one. I am working at Wipro as a software engineer,now. Came here for a much needed break.", he said followed by,"Where have you been?"

"Between corporates in Delhi. I needed a vacation too so why not.", she said flashing the same corporate smile.

They continued talking about a lot of things. The firm's they had worked in. Problems they had faced and how it had helped them grow to be a better person.

"What about relationships?", asked Kunj out of nowhere. Of course he was interested person.

"I am not into every other man I see. That keeps me single all the time.", she replied. "And you?", she asked.

"Same as you.", he said with a disappointed smile.

The waiter came to them with their bills. They both cleared their accounts. "Seems like it's time to go. I will see you tomorrow then.", said Prerna getting up from her seat. Kunj stood opposite her and said,"Bad luck, I am leaving tomorrow.",he said tilting his head. "Bad luck indeed.", she agreed. They went out of the shop together when suddenly Kunj asked, "Wanna do that?"

"What?", asked Prerna little confused.

"Um.. that. The trust-fall.", he said pointing towards the group of people playing the game and photographers capturing memories.

"No." ,she stated.

"Why not? Don't you trust me?", he asked raising an eyebrow at her.

Of course she did.

"Fine. If I break my bones, you will pay for the medication.", she said walking towards the place where the stall was set up. Kunj caught up behind her with a victorious smile. He got for a ticket and waited with her for in the queue. They were the third pair so they waited patiently.

Prerna could not believe her luck. He was her first true love, who had indeed rejected her once and tried to avoid her as much as he could. And now, he wanted to do a trust-fall challenge with her. She could not make out his intentions but she was happy, she would have a memory with him which she could treasure forever. At this thought, the corporate smile on her face was took over by a small genuine smile of happiness that came from her heart.

It was their chance. Prerna stood straight arching her hands in the opposite directions while Kunj stood behind her with hands arched infront of him, to catch her. She lifted her toes, slowly transferring her weight to her heels and then she let go. Another moment passed and she felt his being locked around her shoulders and with that she landed perfectly with her head touching his torso.

"Perfect.", shouted the photographer and then they stood aside giving up the space to the next pair in the queue. A man gave them their photograph.

Kunj took the photo and took out some cash to pay for it when Prerna said," I will keep the photo so let me pay for it."

She paid the man and he went away. "But I want to keep the photo.", argued Kunj.

"No please. I want to have it. It's out sole memory together. Don't you think I deserve it more than you?", pleaded Prerna.

"You do deserve it more but.... Okay we can do one thing. You keep the photo and instead I get your phone number.", he said with a smirk.

Prerna could not believe her ears."My number", she asked to confirm if she had heard the thing correct.

"Yep.", he replied.

"Fine.", she said still not quite believing he asked for her number.

"Type your number and I will give you a ring.", she said passing him her iPhone.

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