Unnoticed

Unnoticed(Arwen) Her back was towards the entrance, she did not see him enter but she knew he was there. She’d already felt his presence, tingling toes and the unwelcoming shivers running down her spine had already alerted her to his presence. It was just like the old times, nothing had changed…for which she was glad. As excruciating as the feeling was, it connected her with him and she could never let go of it. She smiled at the irony.

Yesterday was the first time she’d seen him since the day she’d walked out of his life. In that paralyzing moment when she’d caught sight of his silhouette on that crowded street she forgot the world and it’s meaningless inhabitants. She stood rooted on the spot soaking in the sight, watching him as he closed the distance between them and then as he walked past her. The crowd was her cover, he did not feel her presence in spite of the proximity…just like the old times he did not notice.

Fate had a twisted sense of humour, the fact that he should walk into the park and perch himself on the bench facing the gate rather than the park was a live example of it. He had his back to the lush green trees lining the sparkling pond…he had his back to her. She stared at the hunched figure for a long while. He hadn’t changed much. She remembered their college days... she was the tomboy and he the geek, she loved being center stage while he hid in the wings. she was the boisterous player, he was the silent spectator, she loved to talk, he was the most insightful listener. They were friends, the best of the lot. She thought they fit perfectly, she loved him and he loved her back too, but he loved her only as a friend. Never in the years that they spent together did she ever tell him how she felt, as a matter of fact she recognized her own feelings the day he told her he loved someone else, he loved her friend. she hated him for loving someone else, but she couldn’t stop loving him either, she was an oxymoron personified. Eventually he got busier and she phased out. She knew he did not notice.

Years later, as she sat there staring at him, oblivious to her existence, she wondered what bad karma had haunted her for so many years that she had to hide from the only man she ever loved. Consumed in her thoughts she lowered her kohl lined eyes to the book on her lap blocking him from her vision. She let her long hair loose…a dark curtain to separate them again. The figure on the bench turned around but she did not notice.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

He sat on the bench lost in his thoughts. He was a man who was trying to fall out of love. The emotion had fooled him. He sat on that park bench cursing destiny; his first love had never materialized. Those vivacious kolh lined eyes that followed him around had disappeared. They did not tell him stories anymore. He knew she never loved him the way he loved her. It hurt him. He longed for her to reciprocate his feelings, but she was clueless about them. She was his only friend, they fit perfectly; she was the yin to his yang. He loved her but she had never noticed.

Till date he wondered what evil had possessed him when he told her that he liked her friend. He meant it to be harmless joke. But she caught on to the idea. Her eyes brightened at the thought..but his face fell…she did not notice.

Wallowing in self pity the red monster in his chest made him keep his distance from the kohl lined eyes. She too distanced herself from him. He could never get over her, they were in the same classes and he used to look at her with longing in his eyes, he missed her, but she never noticed.

Years later he sat here in a park, facing the gate rather than enjoying the view. He was here because he had felt her presence yesterday; just like the old days, he knew the kolh lined eyes were watching him from somewhere. He had quickened his pace and returned to his hotel for the fear that the kohl lined eyes would bewitch him again. He had his flight the next day, to kill time he had aimlessly walked around the city when he spotted the park where she used to love sitting under trees and reading. When he entered he saw a pond lined with huge banyan trees, he instantly knew she would have loved this place. He could not bear to sit around alone. he turned to leave; but the old sensation gripped him again, those eyes were following him. Absolutely powerless he sat on the bench relishing the sensation. It was nearly time for his flight, he could not delay it any longer, he got up and walked to the gate. just before stepping out he turned around once, someone was sitting behind the massive tree trunk engrossed in a book...but he did not notice.