I stood at the bus stop long after the bus had left. I was trying to figure out why it mattered so much. If Dhruv wanted to keep it a secret, I should respect that and leave it at that. With a deep sigh, I relented. I wouldn’t hold it against him. After all, he wasn’t under any obligation to tell me. We had known each other for less than a month.
I really couldn’t expect him to, could I?
Dhruv had spoken about some organizations where he was going to take me over the weekend. I decided to be a step ahead and started reading up on them as soon as I got home.
Animal shelter, an old age home, a children’s welfare society. I was busy googling when there was a knock on my door. My mum put her head in “Someone’s here to see you.” She pushed the door open after a quick inspection that my room was clean.
Dhruv.
“Thank you.” He said to my mum as he came in.
He waited for my mom to leave and then turned towards me. I was still numb with shock.
“Surprised?” He asked as he made himself comfortable on a chair.
“Understatement of the year.” I commented. “Why are you here?” I asked suspiciously.
“You wanted to know about the letter.” He said simply.
“Oh.” I was a little confused, why did he want to tell me now? “You don’t have to. I really don’t care. I was just curious when I found it. Sorry if I was prying.” I apologized.
I hoped he wouldn’t fall for my fake apology and tell me anyway.
He nodded a little and pulled out the letter. “You won’t mind if I threw it away then? It’s been lying around for so long.”
I watched him carefully. “Go ahead, it’s your letter after all.”
He shrugged and before I could stop him, he tore up the letter and tossed it in the dustbin under my table.
“What did you do that for!?” I was aghast.
“Can we stop pretending you don’t want to know then?” He asked calmly.
I nodded a little, “You didn’t have to be so dramatic.” I walked over slowly to the dustbin. “So now what? Do you want me to tape it together?”
He scoffed, “You didn’t really think I would tear up a letter I had saved for six years, did you?” he pulled out another sheet of paper from his pocket.
If I didn’t know better, I would have said he was trying to not to laugh at the various stages of realization I was going there.
Finally, I burst out laughing, “Very slick Dhruv!” I complimented. “I can’t believe I fell for that!”
Dhruv stood up uncomfortably balancing himself on his cane and took a little bow. “Thank you, walked straight into that one you did.”
I snatched the sheet from him and sat down, cross legged with my face in my hand. “So!”
He sat down in front of me, “So, that’s something I wrote to a girl.”
“Oh.”
“But I never sent it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a long story.”
I shrugged my shoulders, “I’ve got nothing better to do.”
“So this girl..” he started.
“Hey! I need names. Without a name, she’s not real.” I interrupted.
“Fine, her name is Sara.” He said quickly.
“Okay, continue. I know that’s a made up name by the way.” I commented.
A slight smile on Dhruv’s face told me I was right.
“So Sara and I used to stay back for basketball practice.” He said.
“I’m sorry, what???” basketball practice?????
“You know, the sport? I was a very good player, so was she.” He stopped talking for a moment. I guess my confusion was apparent. “You do know that this,” he pointed at his leg, “wasn’t a birth defect right?”
“Oh!” I exclaimed, it seemed like I was running out of things to say. I was already imagining all kinds of horrible things that might have happened to him.
“I fell during a game.” He said simply.
I gulped, “I didn’t know..” I hesitated, “I didn’t know that you could, you know..” I stopped.
“Yeah well, even I didn’t know. But the fall damaged some nerve and left my leg..” his voice trailed off as he touched his leg.
Awkward silence surrounded us. I wish I could say something to make him feel better, but I couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.
I stood up and walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
