Adult Life

It's one of those rainy days. Watching the rain, I was enjoying my evening tea. A friend messaged me that my ex got married 2 days ago. My immediate thought was “No way. How can she marry within a year after our breakup? She was not ready for marriage when I asked for it.”

Before we broke up, our relationship was growing toxic. She started behaving crazily (not in a good way) and that’s when I broke up with her. Followed the ritual of Gen X — unfollowing on social media, deleting the number etc., blocking her on all the social media, which means there were no updates about her. Unfortunately, my memory screwed me this time. I still remembered her number, so I checked out her WhatsApp DP.

There she was, very much married, looking effortlessly gorgeous as ever. Actually, she is more beautiful than the time when we were together. Red-colored lehenga, decked up in jewelry and caked in makeup with shades of cyan (more towards blue notes) above her eyes and scarlet blush on her cheeks and vermillion lips.

I have to be honest here. I have a little too much time these days. Seeing her in that dress, something inside me moved that I could smell a faint burning odour within myself. So, keeping my egos aside, I decided to call her, but who calls their ex randomly after a year? So, I texted her 2-days after her wedding.

Me: Hey S! Just heard the news. Congratulations. So happy for you (I wasn't happy even a bit)

S: Hey V. Thank you. It means a lot coming from you.

Me: Hope you’re doing well.

S: Yes. Having the time of my life.

Me: (Well. Fuck my mind) Damn! I thought you were done with relationships after me and also, you were never interested in marriage stuff. This is quite a surprise.

S: Yeah… well… I found him.

Me: This is cheating. Anyway, good for you. How’s he?

S: Sleeping. He sleeps at 9.

Me: Even on honeymoon?

S: God! No! We couldn't travel due to some rituals and conditions that both our families had.

Me: Oh! Lemme guess. Do you still sleep at 4 AM?

S: Well… you know me very well.

(after an awkward silence for a few minutes)

Me: Do you still miss me?

S: What?

Me: You heard it right. Do you still miss me?

S: I’m married, V.

Me: That’s not an answer to my question.

(Silence)

She went offline. Shit. I shouldn’t have texted that. I locked my phone and kept it away.

The next night, again at around 1 AM, I received her text.

S: Hi V!

Me: Hey S.

S: What did you mean yesterday?

Me: Your husband is asleep?

S: What? Yes. BTW, what did you mean yesterday?

Me: I just asked… if you still missed me?

S: After everything that you..... After everything that we…

Me: We never said goodbye.

S: Well… I’m married now, so… goodbye.

I waited for a few minutes.

Me: You’re still online.

S: Maybe I’ve other exes to talk to.

Me: If you weren’t married. Would you have missed me?

S: I missed you every day for a year. It was too painful.

Me: Do you like your husband? It's an arranged marriage, right?

S: He is… sweet.

Me: But do you like him. Like the way I used to like you?

S:

Me: Like I still do.

The uncomfortable silence found its way again.

It was goodbye then. An ugly one. But then I got this text the next day—

S: You wanna meet?

We met.

She had those bangles on. And henna all across her hands. And sindoor. God! She was gorgeous.

We spoke about old times. We laughed. Laughed a lot. Had our favourite coffee. Cracked some old jokes.

The lost love, the spark found its way back.

I had been on a few dates after her, but no one came close to the allure she exuded. God! I had missed her.

But then I saw the ring on her finger. The shine made me come back to my senses.

As we walked to our respective vehicles, she held my hands, wrapped her fingers into mine, and pulled me closer.

S: I read your blog sometimes. Nice stories. Cool plot twists.

Me: Thanks.

S: Will you write something about me there?

Me: I don’t know. I don’t like to write about past relationships.

S: You will.

Me: ??

S: You got a new dog, right? Labrador pup?

Me: Yeah! How do you know…

S took out her phone and opened the photo gallery.

S: I met someone on Tinder. Nice guy. But very angry. And very loyal. Would do anything for me.

Me: (looking at her phone) Is that my dog?

S: Your friend took your dog for a walk. My Tinder friend happened to be around.

Me: What the fu… are you crazy? That’s my dog.

S: I know. Wanna see him again? You just have to post a story about me… about us.

(PS: This story is fiction and didn't happen. Fortunately, I don't have such a psycho ex in my life)