| Too Late | - A One Shot

Too Late

Walking down the street, Shifali swung her bag, grinning broadly. After such a long hiatus she was back in her country, back in India. She chuckled as she saw people trying to bargain for a mere five rupees with the man selling vegetables. Nothing had changed.

She knew she had not changed. Five years in Canada, but she had not lost her tradition, her values. But most importantly, she had not lost her love, her love for Prem. At the thought of him, a smile was brought to her lips and a blush had crept over face. She remembered their good-byes at the airport not so long ago.

~~~

Prem shoved Shifali's bag into her hands, avoiding her gaze. Picking up the rest of the bags, he kicked the door of the cab shut with his foot and stalked away from Shifali who adjusted the bags in her hands and smiling slightly, walked in after him.

Reaching the gate number of her flight, he dropped her bags and turned to face her. She carefully put her bags down and faced him.

"I guess this is good-bye."

Prem grimaced. "Why is Bauji sending you? Why couldn't someone else go?"

Shifali sighed. "Prem, it's only a couple of years. I'm just going to oversee the construction of the hotel and I'll be back before you know it."

Prem stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I'll miss you."

She gazed at him, struck into silence at the sheer happiness he brought into her life. It had taken her forever to admit to herself that she loved him and just recently she had started noticing his little quirks that made her fall in love all over again. The way his bottom lip pouted when he was trying to get some information out of her, the way his eyebrows crushed together when he was confused and the way his eyes flashed when he was angry.

A battle was taking place in her brain. Should she tell him or not? He knew her better than anyone and Shifali valued him more then anyone else. She raised her eyes to look into his deep ones and lost her courage. There would be time to tell him when she got back. When they were older. And perhaps not seeing him every day would show her if she really loved him or not?

Leaning in, Shifali hugged Prem, trying to put everything she had ever felt for him into that hug. Letting go, she smiled at him again and walked into the terminal turning to catch a glimpse of Prem a couple dozen times before she left.

~~~

Shaking her head at the memory Shifali turned to corner and she could see the Juneja household in the distance. Speeding up, she smiled to herself, happy that her love had survived the test, that she knew that she really loved Prem, and was confident he did too.

Pushing the gate open, with a start she realized that this was it. Heart pounding, she walked into the foyer. She could hear people upstairs but no one was around to be seen. A tug at her foot caused her to look down to see a beautiful little girl looking up at her.

Smiling, Shifali knelt down so she was at her level. Those eyes...

"Aap kaun hai?"

With a hesitent pause, the child replied. "Payal."

"What a beautiful name! Payal will you go tell someone inside that Shifali is here?"

Nodding, the child ran inside, happy to have something to do. Shifali straightened, grinning broadly, not believing that Harman and Maya had themselves a daughter. Who would have thought so much could have happened in five, short years?

Shifali turned, at the sound of footsteps. She recognized those footsteps. She could recognize them anywhere. Turning at the corner, Prem came into view. Seeing him, her heart stopped. She had forgotten what effect he had had on her. Her eyes, thirsting, drank at the sight of him. he had glasses now, and he was dressed in all black, not that she was complaining. Seeing her, his face lit up and he ran towards her.

The first touch in five years. In his embrace, Shifali breathed, at peace. Leaning back, they both grinned at each other, not sure of what to say, simply happy to be with each other again. Shifali's heart sped up, she knew if she didn't tell him today, she wouldn't be able to tell him ever.

The small girl, Payal peeked out, behind from Prem's legs. Distracted, or perhaps, welcoming a distraction on purpose, Shifali squealed.

"Honestly Prem, the fact that Harman and Maya had a child seems so surreal to me!"

Grinning, Prem picked up Payal, swinging her across to his other hand, emitting happy but shrill shrieks from her.

"They didn't."

Confused for a second, Shifali brightened again.

"Preet?!?! No way, don't believe that!"

Smiling now openly, Prem shook his head.

"Not Preet either. Payal is my daughter."

The world was either getting bigger or she was shrinking. Breathing had never been so hard for Shifali who found herself leaning against the wall for support. Her eyes wide open in shock, watched as Prem explained that as soon as Shifali had left, Bauji had fixed Prem's wedding with Heer, his friend's daughter and a year later Payal was born.

"Everything happened so fast Shifs, I didn't even get a chance to tell you, wait till you meet Heer, you'll love her. I know I do."

That did it. Turning, ignoring Prem's questions, Shifali ran down the driveway, out down the street, through the traffic. She ran till she couldn't run anymore. Collapsing, she noticed that tears were streaming down her cheeks. The cold wind was furious, whirling around just like her mind. But it wasn't her mind she was worried about. It was her heart, alone, cold and deserted.

***

Hope you like it Shifali! 😃 I'm not that happy with the ending, I think it sounds kinda rushed. I know you wanted it all tragic-y and I don't think this is as tragic as I could have made it.

Comments or hits of the "like" button anyone?

--shabz