*Phone buzzing*
"Who'd be calling now?"
I went to freshen up all my tiredness by taking a shower and it actually felt like washing away all the negativity from me. Power of taking a good bath after a long day.
"Laura?". I answered the call
"Yeah what's up? The reunion? Oh my!!! I totally forgot. It's today??? what do you mean get ready in ten minutes? Look Laura, I don't feel like going? Wait, why would you bluff so much???? Alright, fine!! Give me half an hour."
I completely skipped it. It was the college reunion and all the batchmates were coming. As I was quite popular back in days because of my passion and friendly behavior, I think everyone will be curios what I am doing now. Did I achieved my goals and all or not? Ahh, they might be expecting a lot from me but oh dear...let's face the reality Mia. Let's not run away.
Let's own. All your failures. All your broken dreams that were once dreams.
I thought to myself, sighed and went in my room to get changed. After getting ready, I stood in front of the mirror and took a glance. With all black shirt and trouser, a watch, a necklace and light makeup, I was looking quite decent.
I never considered my self a beautiful girl. A decent and impressive one, that is what I wanted to be.
"Okay...relax, it's just a reunion...nothing to be nervous about. All they are going to ask is why? It's okay. So what you won't be able to impress them?"
But I don't know. Maybe I wanted to impress everyone and I was feeling I won't be able to.
Well whatever. I looked at my phone and then at the window.
Why was it open? I remembered I closed it. I nodded my head and closed the window. Checked all the switches and gas. Even though the electricity was cut out, I still did that out of habit. I took my bag and here I went to the reunion.
***
We were all seated and almost everyone came from our class. Like almost twenty five people made it. and yes, I wanted to be happy for them but I don't know when they get to know that I got jobless again and their facial expressions turning to mockery and displease and un-impressiveness, gosh, it had me.
So mostly the conversations went like these
"Hey hello, long time no see..."
"Yeah exactly...how is it going?"
"Well you know, I just got a great job in that certain famous firm. It isn't easy to get job there. But you know, connections work wonders. And the Boss is all over me...so its fantastic. What about you?"
"Umm, yeah congratulations (on having connections) .Well, I worked their but I just lost my job so_"
"Oh my God! You lost your job?????" Urgghhh the amount of exclamation on her face. she was known as the beauty queen in our department. "Oh my, I 'm sorry....it must be hard....poor you!!!So what you do now?"
I hated every single moment after that. One thing that I just could not endure was sympathy. The unwanted one. Like, why are you making a big deal?
I think I was wrong to say it all.
See the problem in our society. We just tend to see that a person did that. They don't consider thinking about the reason behind it. Every action has a reaction. We mostly focus on reactions rather than actions that caused them.
And then, that beauty queen told every single one of them that I lost my job. I want to curse now. But my bad that I don't know how to curse. Laura messaged my, scolding me for telling it out. Seriously when did I even?
Well, conclusion: I didn't wanted to stay their anymore.
Sometimes, other's glamour can make you gloomy.
***
I didn't even waited for the food and came out. I told Laura before leaving. A long walk was what I needed. As I was walking by the side road of that busy street, I looked up. No stars. Clouds had hovered all over the sky. Was it going to rain.
With every single step I took, it felt tiring and difficult to control over my heavy heart.
I just sat on a bench nearby. Looking at my palms, I was wondering...
Why am I the only one who is left behind? Just because I want to abide by my rules and don't want to do anything dishonest, why do I have to face these circumstances? Every one around me is successful, by any means, at least they have something. So I have to be like every one else to achieve my goals? Can't I just be successful?
What had gotten into me I didn't know...All I knew was, I was being way ungrateful. Or maybe it was normal to question when you cannot get what you want? Or maybe I didn't try enough to be the one I want to be?
I just compared and compared. Others and me. Me and others. Successes and failures.
Ahhhhhh..... I sighed heavily and stood up.
" Go home Mia, it will rain soon"
The breeze was blowing differently and I had a hunch it will rain.
As I entered my apartment complex, it started pouring heavily. Rain. Such a classic. No one judge clouds why they cry. Then why judge people?
I entered my pitch black apartment and after closing the door, I switched on the flash light of my phone. I threw my bag on the couch and …wait a second...
The window was open. I watched it questioning myself how would it open. Maybe the wind. But the direction was opposite so how?
And in that wondering, got a beep beep from my phone.
Battery dead and boom. All dark again.
My phone died.
I went to kitchen
*thud*
"Ouchh" , knocked my knee in the counter.
I blew the matchstick and lighted up the candle. I didn't kept candles for that purpose. It was a hobby of mine to collect them.
After lighting it up...in the dim glow...as I turned, the sight I saw was not I had ever imagined or witnessed. A shiver ran through my spine. With my eyes widened and soul getting numb, I screamed under the outrageous fear I felt.
(to be continued...)