One shot: Just around the corner

Just around the corner

"I think of you every night, wondering how would it feel to have your smile reach your eyes for once.

I see you immersed in conversations with your colleagues, explaining something animatedly, only to have them break your flow, to attend to the call from their spouse. I see how you hide the disappointment with a hint of smile, and seal your words and thoughts with a sip of coffee.

I see you choose not to skip the family day in office, instead face the questions you're used to head on.

"He is no more" you'd say, "It's been two years" you'd say, politely.

Why would you not shut them down, I have always wondered.

Earning someone's pity kills one's being. However, I see you fight back each day with renewed spirit, with passion for your work, kindness to everyone around you, respect towards your both superiors and subordinates alike.

I have not seen a more perfect woman for your perfection lies in all the things that constitute to make you, you.

I know you have lost your life partner who had promised to be with you in sickness and health. I'm not saying he is replaceable. He is a family member, someone you loved. The loss can never be replaced. But so is any relation.

You can't replace any relationship with anything else. I don't want to be a replacement. All I want is to see the thoughts and words you keep deep inside your heart, not sharing with anyone flow freely. I want to be the person you share your evening coffee with and fill up on office rumors. I wish to be the person that would see you laugh and would be there to give you a shoulder when you cry, and someone who would do their damnest to not see you cry. I wish to be there for you, in arm's length, just around the corner.

That's all in the future. For now though I wish to have one cup of coffee with you. Just a cup of coffee and nothing else"

"Hey" she says disturbing him out of whatever he was writing.

"Hi" he says, although he looks startled to be disturbed such. She sees him push something he had been writing under his laptop, and smiles.

"I see you are busy with something confidential" she grins. "What could it be" she wonders aloud. "Nation's security secrets maybe?"

"It's nothing. Just this and that" he waves his hand.

"Not helping. You're not helping at all to satiate the curiosity" she says clicking her tongue. "By the way your boss wants to see you" she says and with one last smile, turns to go back to her department, done with as she had with the cross functional meeting with various department heads.

"Acha, Geet?" He ventures and she stops, her eyes holding mild confusion.

"I have the design ready" he says and her smile deepens and her hand reach her lips, closing her mouth in amazement.

"Did you just say you designed my dream home?" She asks beautifully smiling with surprise in her eyes. It had been a week, since she had mentioned something regarding how she wishes her dream home to be in a casual conversation and he had told her, he would love to put it on paper for her. She never expected him to take it seriously amongst his pressing schedule.

"Um it might not be that great" he waves off, uncomfortable with anything related to appreciation.

"Nonsense. I will love it. I know I will. Is that it? Show show show"

"No" he says, almost in panic. "I mean, I'll have to make a few minor changes and I'll show it to you by evening. Is that fine?"

"Perfect" she grins.

"Meet me in the coffee shop across then at 7?" He ventures. "I mean..."

"You're right. Your boss won't like me hogging your time. You're sure right, I'm not wasting your time?".

"I love doing it. It's my job"

She smiles tenderly at him but doesn't say anything. "Thanks Maan"

"Say it to me when you see it"

"Can't wait" she says and with a final wave, walks away back to her department.

As he watches her leave, he pulls back the letter and a half smile escapes his lips.

He wasn't sure if he could ever say even a single line from what he had written to her. Surprising himself, however he could get one line right. Asking her out to coffee.

Maybe if it's just the beginning or be the only thing he would ever say to her. Only time will tell.