Tring-Tring

A: Hello!

R: Hello....Who is this?

A: This is 'A' here. Seems like you forgot my voice too.

(Long...almost never-ending silence)

R: Must be a dream. I have seen this before also - you, calling me. But the morning ruins everything, every time.

A(sighing): So, how are you?

R: Is this real? I mean, is this happening? My heart is pounding hard. What on earth, compelled you to call me after 8 years? Oh...GOD, is this really you?

(The silence deepens)

A: You sound to be the same. This is how you used to talk, back then, also. How is everybody at home?

R: Everyone is fine and you are right. I am the same. Looks like I got stuck in time. All these years I used to dream that one day, you will call me, wanting to know how am I doing in life. I used to think about all the things I have to tell you -small and big, important and trivial. I used to re-hearse them day and night, waiting for my phone to ring. But that never happened. And now, I am feeling restless. Suddenly from nowhere, you have called me up asking how I am? I have no clear answer. Really, at this very moment, I feel blank. I am anxious about what to talk to you. I don't know for how much time, this call will last. What are the things I should tell you first? Should I tell you about my days without you or should I ask you - do you still care for me? Please help me.

('A' said nothing. 'R' did not know whether she preferred to remain silent or nothing came to her mind)

R: You also don't seem to have changed much. Earlier also, it was me who used to speak most in our conversations and today also, its me. I have to say so many things to you and I don't want to miss this opportunity. A lot of my life has been spent, or rather, is being spent, in imagining about the times we spent together and also about the times we could have spent together. I keep imagining myself to be apologizing to you about all the blunders I did and made you suffer. I am really really sorry for all the false promises I made, for all the wrongs dreams I showed you. I am sorry for not being brave enough, for not being considerate enough. I am sorry, I did not care for you when you needed me the most. I took you and everything favourable to me, for granted and messed up all the good that was there in my life. I behaved my erratic worst by trying to call you after your marriage, creating embarrassing situations for you. I am sorry for all this and more.

A: You are one stubborn person. You very well know that I have no regrets of any kind. Perhaps, time was not in favour of us. You should stop blaming yourself and stop being vulnerable.

R: You have always been stronger or should I say 'greater' than me. Why don't you realize and accept that I am an ordinary man.

A: Is this a taunt?

R: You see, after full 8 years we are talking to each other and we have started fighting already. I badly miss all of this. And I miss - you, going into the silent mode whenever you fall short of arguments, you, waiting for me looking out desperately from your window, you, finishing my assignments while I was busy watching cricket, and you, miserly saving every penny of yours to buy new specs for me. I miss your smile, your smell and your tears. I miss touching that deep mark at the corner of your left eye which was formed when you hurt yourself while stealing pickle in your childhood. I miss the feeling that once, I was so special for you.

(Again, a deep silence for few minutes)

A: I guess, I have to put down the phone. My daughter is starting school from tomorrow. I have to prepare for her school.

R: But wait, you have not told me, why did you call me after so many years, now? Will you not say anything? Why you always do this to me? Please say something.

A: I called you because like you, I am also an ordinary person. I am trying to 'move on' in life but occasionally I 'move out' of it. And I called to say  Happy Birthday to you. Don't wait for my call. I may not call you again.

(The phone line got disconnected and 'R' kept sitting on his chair with a choked throat, trying to figure out how to start the process of 'letting it go' all over again.)