No one kept promises - Bhaskar Sinha || English Story || Short Story || English short story

 No one kept promises

           Bhaskar Sinha

The night was advancing alarmingly, and Ravi's worry intensified. He stepped out onto the balcony again, surveying his surroundings. All he saw was a drenched street dog lying miserably near the gate. Beyond that, the area was deserted. Rainwater pooled in the alleys, and the lampposts stood like bare masts stripped of their sails. A gust of wind shook the mango tree in the courtyard, causing a few twigs to snap and fall. In the distance, thunder rumbled ominously. Was that a soft knock at the door? He turned around swiftly... only to be greeted by a blast of cold wind.

Ravi muttered to himself in dismay. No, it couldn't be. She couldn't deceive him now, not after he had traveled so far and settled into this unremarkable guesthouse for one last attempt. He had carefully orchestrated all his plans...

Things were markedly different nearly a quarter of a century ago. Life was filled with songs, melodramas, butterflies, and flowers. Emotions ran high, encompassing sharing, caring, and even bullying, amidst other extravagances. Sonja was the queen of that era. If their lives were a deck of cards, she would undoubtedly be the 'Queen'. Who the 'King' or 'Ace' was could be debated but being the 'Jack' wasn’t desirable then. As time passed, hearts were traded for a few glittering diamonds. To escape his troubles, Ravi found solace in a job offer from a distant land, offering him a fresh start.

Fast forward to the present, a quarter of a century later, and much has changed. Now, there are platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. It's difficult to completely disconnect from childhood sweethearts unless one chooses to be unsocial. Who could ignore the constant notifications when online, or the flurry of friend requests? Ravi believed that perhaps only a Buddha could manage such detachment. It took only a month for him to reconnect with his school friends via WhatsApp, and soon all the old gossips were rekindled with new life. The more he tried to forget the past, the more those memories flooded his thoughts, particularly those involving Sonja. Feelings of discomfort, betrayal, nonacceptance, and being the butt of jokes resurfaced. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming thirst.

A sudden craving for a cigarette overwhelmed Ravi. He realized he didn’t have a single one with him, as Sonja disliked smoking. The urge grew intense, driving him to put on his raincoat and step outside. Descending the stairs, he noticed the front door was left open. The small kiosk at the corner, visible from the entrance of the guesthouse, was his target. He splashed through puddles, noting the overflowing drains, reminiscent of his childhood days spent searching for small fish in similar conditions. To his disappointment, the kiosk was shuttered due to the heavy rain. The nearest department store was at least a mile away. Breathing in the scent of rain-soaked kadam flowers, a smell he loved, he couldn’t help but feel it evoked the essence of a Greek tragedy.

Lijo was someone he could share everything with- his modest pocket money, his deepest fears, and even answers during exams. Those were the days of budding hormones, surrounded by an Eden-like atmosphere. Flirting with girls was a common sport among them, with the ultimate goal being the 'trophy' of attraction. Whoever succeeded in this game was celebrated by all.

The influence of novels and movies, with their stories of uniting lovebirds, had seeped into his subconscious. One day, overwhelmed by these emotions, Ravi acted impulsively. He raced to Sonja's house on his bike. Once there, he blurted out a rehearsed speech, only to turn his bike around and head home abruptly. Did she respond? He couldn't remember. Was there a pause, hesitation, acceptance, rejection? He didn't know and never sought to find out. Why hadn't he?

Then there was the time they sat together by the old town lagoon. She questioned him about the disruptive letter he had sent. Why did he have to turn their sweet relationship bitter? His attempt to tear the letter into pieces was futile; the fragments were carried away by the evening breeze, scattering over the lagoon in search of eternal peace.

Back in their college days, they were immersed in passionate activism, shouting fiery slogans and challenging the lethargic administration, only to end up cozying up with their sweethearts in secret evening hideaways. Lacking a secluded spot to discuss their revolutionary ideas, they would ride their bikes to the terminal station to play their game of 'Baghbandi'. Then, when the police arrived, Lijo and he would rush back to the hostel, often ending up laughing about the whole ordeal.

Did they truly understand what they wanted? Were they aware of what the future held for them? Why did they make all those promises? Even if not together, why did each of them vow to shoulder the entire burden? And most importantly, why did they claim they would remain friends forever?

Today was supposed to be the day. He had planned it meticulously, hoping that both Lijo and Sonja would be present. Social media had made it possible to stay connected, even from afar. Today, they were supposed to discuss why they needed the crutches of siddhi or ganja to speak their truths. Why was their so-called sobriety just a façade? Why did the truth still lie in platonic relationships, and why wasn't there a need to glorify physical intimacy?

Standing in the rain, Ravi watched as the cesspool overflowed, leading towards the town's end lagoon. Frogs were croaking in concert, while beetles and weevils sought shelter in the guesthouse, abandoning the courtyard.

PING... PING... His phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. A message from someone named Ayush read, "Mummy is busy with grandma for a check-up." Then came a direct message from Lijo: "Going to a senior management meeting in Spain. Sorry, hope to meet you soon!" followed by a smiley emoji.

Bah! The WhatsApp group would have to suffice for now. That was it. Period.