Love, just as we know it (II)

(Note: A series of short stories on that thing we call Love)

II

He saw her flight take off, with an ebbing feeling that always followed her going away. It baffled him years ago, just as it did now. It’s been fifteen years now. More than a decade, but the feeling still finds him. He smiled, as he always did. She will be back in a few months.

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone and she’s always gone too long, anytime she goes away.”

This song started as a joke, but stuck on to become a tradition. Still as cheesy as we were back then! He chuckled, she would have laughed too.

Still grinning, he got home, to find the ‘boys’ over. It’s the games night, I completely forgot.

“Here he comes, smiling like an idiot. She still has that effect on you?”

He blushed slightly, running his fingers through his hair.

Normally, he wouldn’t reminisce. But the comment nudged him to walk down the memory lane, just awhile.

Yes, she had the same effect on him, right from the very first moment. That fleeting glance, the momentary pause, as their gaze stood arrested. He remembered too well, how he had felt his heart flip. And yes, that slight smile on her face, a mixture of both, hesitation and willingness; disarming to the hilt. Was it love? Yes would have been, but, an understatement. Was it magic? That would be a cliché, but, true, nonetheless.

It was a normal Saturday for him; he was at the Red Cross Centre, treating patients pro bono, at its hospital, something he’d been doing ever since he’d received his medical license.

She was there for one of Red Cross’ latest campaigns. When he first saw her, she was bent over the desk, engrossed in a file. He cleared his throat, coughing louder than he’d wanted to. She looked up, and smiled. That just about did it!

Besotted by now, there were million questions waltzing in his head, but two were of crucial importance: Was she single? Will she leave soon? I bet she’s unattached, just as I am sure, she won’t stay for long, he answered. He was wrong…on both accounts.

She left, but kept coming back, every 3 months, for the last fifteen years. Their friendship deepening, with each visit. Was it her work or did she come back for him? It still remained a mystery.

He would have loved to be with her all the time. But, three days every three months, wasn’t bad either.

He smiled, yet again, and went to join his friends for the games night!

Sometimes, love comes, but in bits and pieces. Yet, its love, nonetheless.