Click. Clack. Ruffle. Repeat.
Her firm steps reminded him of the ever ready presence behind him. Dancing just a few steps after her man, the woman's rhythm carried a story to tell. Conscious of his drunken state, present to guide his path, quick to clear the obstacles, agile to hold him as he fell, she was his sole protector tonight. Like many other nights. But.
He didn't want her there. A constant force lurking in the shadows, pressing his buttons was getting too burdensome.
"Quit it, won't you?"
He screamed kicking the first grey object in his path. It could have been a dog or a landscaping rock. It was hard to tell in the dark. Plus, what use was the woman behind him if not to apologize for his childish tactics.
Click. Clack. "I am sorry. He's not usually like this. He's drunk". She bowed to strangers passing by, begging for forgiveness on his behalf.
Ruffle. Repeat.
There she went again. The cobalt blue of her military coat fighting his hunter green suspenders, like a captain lugging his low-rank lieutenant on the tail.
Click. Clack.
"Stop following me".
Pause.
His footsteps grew quieter but she stayed put. He was pulling away but she had stopped holding. His neck turned a subtle turn and that was her hint. She sprinted at light speed to catch up to him, braking just behind his heel.
Ruffle. Repeat.
One second her slender fingers slipped underneath the elastic on his shoulder and another, his suspenders were straightened back from where they fell. He shrugged her hand away in frustration and turned around, his flaring eyes staring into her hopeful ones.
"Just how much do you like me?"
"Don't know", she answered coyly.
"Why? Why don't you know?"
His grip on her wrist was gentle but strong, both aware of her delicate touch but wary of the metal in her core.
"Because"
"Because?"
"You test me so much, you sadist, that every time I build a wall to contain just how love I have for you, you make me break it".
He bit his lip like nothing happened. Then, sighed in frustration. Finally, he wiped her nose with the back of his thumb and started walking away.
Click. Clack. This woman sure was persistent. No matter how much he attacked her pride. She fought back. When his heavy insults pulled her down, she dusted her coat, got right back up, and followed him again.
Ruffle. Repeat.
"Oun. It's blood".
He glazed down at his palm and noticed a bloody thumb from having wiped her snort. He reached for his silk neck tie and waved it in the air until she caught it.
"You must be really happy today. You hated that tie from the minute I eyed it in the shop".
He smiled remembering her pleadings not waste money on such ugly things. But he was adamant. "My way or the highway. If you're going to live with a man like me", he said, "you better give up on arguments now. I don't budge".
"Really? Then I am in for a fight because both me and my words stick like glue. I don't leave easily".
Cricket
Anupamaa
