Akhand Singh

“Hello” he called her; it was the last drink when he felt out of control.

“Are your drunk?” she asked.

He said nothing and smiled, the last of black crown definitely had a kick on him.

“You know I love you right?” He said.

“I know and I love you” she replied, “but I love you as friend” she insisted, he believed it like he had no other option, he was in a relationship and so was she, how come he leave somebody for her but the bigger questions was if she can leave her boy friend for him. They have been good friends for a long time; he stood by her like she did for him. But was it enough to fall in love?.

He never understood why he liked her, why he was really being pulled into this empty relationship moreover he couldn’t resist doing so, it took him almost an year to realize the very fact that the relation that started just as a friendship was no longer standing as such but it shaped into a passionate attraction and love. He was confused about what he actually wants until now when even after telling her that he loves her, she still stood as a diplomat.

“We talked about this, didn’t we? She asked.

He smiles “yes we did”.

“So where this is coming from?” She asks.

“This was always there, nothing changed” he asserted controlling his drunken tongue from slipping.

She was quiet for a second like something strange hit her, she knew he was going crazy, but what she wanted to believe was that he was drunk and didn’t mean what he was saying.

“You already have a girlfriend” She bursts.

He says but laughs, she could easily hear his laugh and deep down realizes that it’s too late; he crossed the line of returning at-least not with the complete mind. We can’t do this she says ” I have been in a virtual relationship for last two years but still I can’t  mess this up, he is possessive, really possessive” she asserts.

“I don’t want to mess up your life babe” He says

“What do you want?” She asks

“I want you to be honest, tell me what you feel for me” He says, desperately waiting to hear what she had to say but moreover the only words he wanted to hear.

“I told you that I love you” She says and pauses “You are the best friend I would ever have, you are precious to me” She adds.

His mind flips upside down, “What was it? I have seen love in your eyes for me, it wasn’t just friendship” He says

She remains quiet, gathering the words of diplomacy and preparing to deliver the speech, but later nothing walks up to her mind, she knows the truth like nobody else does. He has the idea; he can sense the truth but cannot get that out of her. The prolonged silence calls for the night.

“You are drunk, you should sleep and we will talk tomorrow” She says

He smiles, knowing that this tomorrow was not coming for him even if it does for her, he would make the choice that she would not want or expect.

“Good night and take care” she says

“Good night” he replies and the conversation ends.

He throws the phone on the ground and jumps on the bed, the burden of making a choice left him exhausted and he slides into the comforter and closes his eyes, sleep takes over eventually and the burden slowly fades with the night that remains young.

~An Empty Glass