While Shopping
Stella is waving her left hand while crossing the 2nd street of Centrum, she already has spotted Marshall who is waiting for her on other side of the mall. Stella is in her mid-twenties and working as a research fellow in one of the renowned colleges of Central Europe. Quantum mechanics is her specialization, but somehow pace of the thesis is not progressing as expected. There were two options to manage her financial crisis: either joining for fulltime job in local company or pursuing PhD in home country. She has decided not to give up on PhD and decided to leave her favorite city. Her flight is scheduled for tomorrow; there are few staff needs to grab at this eleventh hour. Though she didn’t explicitly ask but Marshall volunteered in accompanying, probably for the last time.
Marshall and Stella didn’t know each other in spite of being in same institution, they met via a group of common friends. Though the group doesn’t exist anymore, that couldn’t dent their friendship. Marshall enjoys her companion; he looks most comfortable while with Stella and she can sense about it and enjoys the same. In contrast, Marshall doesn’t have enough clue on what Stella thinks about him. The only clue he has about Stella is she completely trusts him in every situation, putting effort in realizing anything more than that is as impossible as solving mysteries like Bermuda Triangle.
A quick conversation between them from morning –
Stella: Hi Marshall, Good Morning.
Marshall: Hello Ma’am, tell me.
Stella: I need to buy some gift items, planning to be at mall in afternoon.
Marshall: Okay.
Stella: Okk.
As far he knows Stella, this ‘Okk’ is not actually okay. Marshall in contrast was not in mood of meeting her anymore. What is the point of meeting again when she is leaving for good? – He was thinking. Then another text appeared from her –
Stella: Do you have a weighing machine? Just to make sure that I won’t buy in excess today!
Marshall: I don’t have. But how much space do you have in reserve?
Stella: Around 5 Kgs, I think; don’t know really. Many gifts to buy, tough to manage.
Marshall: I know couple of gift options, will be there in afternoon. Text me once you start.
Stella: At 5 o’clock.
Marshall: Hmm.
Stella: Okk. - This ‘Okk’ seems okay.
After crossing the street Stella paces down little bit and trying to align with his footsteps, then says “How long are you waiting? Sorry, I got dragged in a conversation with the lady next door.”
Marshall: Only for 20 minutes. But it’s okay, won’t have to do the same from tomorrow. - For a moment, Stella looks at him, but their eyes couldn’t meet.
Marshall: For whom will you buy?
Stella: For my nieces, three of them. They are between six to eight years old, so not sure what to pick.
Marshall: You can try jewelries; those are unique here. There are other items like hair clips with characters printed.These will be light, and you can buy as many as you want.
Stella: Not a bad idea at all! Let’s try, help me in picking.
Marshall: Let’s go.
Thank God! You are here today – Stella excitedly speaks out. There is enough for it, she has not only managed to buy for her nieces but also brought for her mom and herself.
“Sometimes I feel that you are the best company while I am in mood for shopping.” She continued.
“But to be frank, I don’t like shopping much, but like suggesting you” Marshall replied.
“So, you don’t have confidence in my selection?” – now their eyes met. One pair was excited, and another was tired. Marshall doesn’t have answer to it.
Is that all? Do you need to buy anything else? – He asks after few minutes of walk. They were discussing about some random topics while coming out of the mall, so Marshall decides to check whether she has grabbed everything per plan. Stella nodded her head sideways. He is aware about this posture, it’s a ‘yes’ in excitement. Marshall normally laughs at her seeing such posture, but today is different. The fact of Stella leaving the city is haunting him. He know that walking along the downtown streets will never be the same from tomorrow.
