One missed call

Siddharth was on his way home from yet another long day at the office. He knew he was going to face another argument with Aditi. This was the third time this week that they had planned for a “night for two” and it wound up getting cancelled because of their hectic work schedules. The fact that it was raining heavily and traffic was a mess wasn’t helping matters either. His thoughts strayed to the time when it was just the two of them…and love was enough. The long talks on the phone….the coffee dates…the way her face would light up when he complimented her….wait…there were lights ahead…a car….headed straight for his car. He honked and tried to swerve….there was a flurry of headlights which blinded him…an angry grating of metal as the cars hit each other and then…silence.

He had no idea how long he was unconscious. When he spoke up, he was in a spacious white room. He was dressed in white too. He thought – I must be in the hospital…Aditi!!!... I have to call her!!! As he looked around for his belongings, he saw a man come in.
The stranger smiled and said “Hello, how are you feeling now?”

“I’m ok…I guess” replied Siddharth.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Yes…I’m looking for my phone. I need to call my wife. She must be worried sick.”

“Ah...!!! Love marriage eh?” the stranger gave Siddharth a conspiratory smile.

“Yes…been together for seven years. Been married for two of them. In fact we’ll be celebrating our wedding anniversary next week.”

“Were you two college sweethearts?”

“Yes…she is the kind of girl you can’t help falling in love with. I wasted nearly a year gathering up the courage to ask her out. And when I finally did…she was like – ‘Of course I’ll go out with you silly!!! I thought you would never ask!!!’ I’ve loved her ever since – never once looked back”

“Do you still love her just as much? Or is it different now that you’re married?”

“Of course I still love her just as much…more even. She knows that too…just because we can’t spend as much time together doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving her!!! I work these long hours so that I can provide my family…she knows that…she works just as hard too…”

“But how do you know that she still loves you the same way?”

“What do you mean? Of course I know!!! She’s my wife!!! Its true we’re going through a bit of a rough patch…but that’s bound to happen…we still love each other and we’ll make it through…”

“Let me ask you something…if you could speak to your wife right now, what would you say?”

“Well…I would tell her I’m fine. That she shouldn’t worry….and…I guess I’ll tell her that I love her.”

The stranger handed Siddharth his cellphone and said “Ok…call her then.”

Siddharth dialed the familiar number of Aditi’s cell and waited for her anxious voice to answer….ringing….”The number you are trying to reach is currently busy. Please try again later.”

“Damn!!! Looks like she’s busy...”

“She didn’t answer the phone?”

“She might still be at work…or caught in a meeting…she’ll SMS me though…”

“Does she always do that when she can’t answer the phone during a meeting or anything?”

“Oh yes…always…it’s a small thing between us…she even cribs via SMS about how boring those sessions are!!! She should me messaging me right now….”

“Ok.”



Aditi looked at her watch yet again. Damn!!! That conference call had gone on way too long….Siddharth was going to be mad about having to cancel their plans yet again. She stared at her phone – one missed call. He had called her but she couldn’t even answer the phone. She had wanted to SMS him right then but her boss had swooped into her cabin and started off about the project that wasn’t going anywhere. She had to spend over half an hour to pacify him. Finally, having dealt with him, she picked up her phone and was about to call Siddharth when her phone beeped. It was a message…from Siddharth. “Please don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I love you.” Puzzled, she started to call him back when the phone rang in her hand.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Mrs. Aditi Bhatnagar?”

“Yes…it is….who’s this?”

“Mrs. Bhatnagar, this is the police. I’m very sorry to inform you that your husband met with an accident about an hour back. He died on the spot…”