The Decision
Meem Noshin Nawal khan
His phone is ringing on the table. He hates phone calls during work. Usually he doesnt pick any phone call when his brain remains stuffed with loads of work. But today, for some unknown reason, he reached over to the phone and picked it up.
Good evening, howre you doing? Still busy with your work? it was a regular and known voice.
Doing well. Yes, busy with my works. You know I dont get a moment to breathe in the evening. I have told you again and again not to call me this time. Do you have anything important to say?
She laughed out loud. The sound embarrassed him for a moment. He waited for her to continue the conversation.
I have got a good news for you, she said excitedly as she stopped laughing.
What is it? he asked curiously.
She sighed. Though he couldnt see her, he could feel her becoming sad for a moment.
Im leaving the country, permanently. she said slowly.
Not giving him time to answer, she continued, Im going to my aunt in the US. The flight is at 8:30 pm tonight, I have a few hours left in this country. I didnt tell you before because I didnt want to ruin my last days in the country and with you thinking about this. Ive irritated you a lot all these days. I dont know whether you really like me or not, but from the bottom of my heart, I can say, I really loved you, and I still love you. Ill be loving you forever. Because I love you, I want you to be happy. Ill not annoy you anymore. Can I make a request?
He had nothing to say. This is true that she annoyed him a lot and sometimes he felt like running away somewhere far, just to avoid her. But right now, he is having a different feeling. This feeling is unknown to him. His heart is breaking and everything in front of his eyes have become fuzzy. Is he really crying for her?
He never liked her that much, though she was never a person to dislike. But he never felt for her.
As he didnt reply, she continued to say, Please remember me. This is the only request I have.
He couldnt reply.
Im sorry, Im disturbing you. You should be working now, she said slowly. She then ended the phone call.
Alone, perplexed and confused, he stared blankly through the window.
At about 8:45 pm, his phone rang. As he picked up the phone, the voice from the other side shouted, Hey! did you get the news? The flight of 8:30 pm, which was flying to the US, crashed. Passengers are all spot dead.
No, no! he cried out and he broke into tears. He is felt like he has nothing left to survive for in this world. What is this feeling? Love? He doesnt know.
Knowing it was useless, he dialled her number. Nobody answered the phone. Did he expect someone to pick it up? How?
He kept staring at the phone, speechless, devastated.
After few minutes, the phone rang again. It was a known number! He picked up the phone slowly.
Hello? his voice trembled.
Hey! she said from the other side, Worried? Huh! What did you think? Ive died? Well, not so quickly. I have a thousand reasons to survive and the best one is you. And sorry I didnt leave. I changed my decision because I have no point to survive if I cant annoy you. I really love irritating you. She started laughing.
