THE LONGEST CALL 

The brightly lit room where they all studied for years together, scribbling their names on the desk and using the correction pen illegally to draw the borders, the room where cheer and laughter rose as the unexpected teacher walked in declaring the free period and even more cheer when they got to know they’ll be taken to the ground for Physical Education period; the room where it all began was now filled with silence. It was the same place they gave three cheers to that one sir who they all feared, yet loved. That day, being free from their uniforms now wearing bright dresses and tuxes, they never knew the farewell day would bring them so close yet so far. 

The janitor shut off the lights as everyone left the room, hand in hand. Yet, few stayed back on the ground where they began their sports life. 

“Promise that you’ll call at least once a month,” he said, and they all agreed. The stone cold lady with no emotions broke down in front of everyone as her dearest one hugged her unexpectedly with the welled up eyes, reminding her that the fun times shall be memories from that moment. 

Now she sat before the monitor where statistical datas crawled in every second. Huge sequence of numbers appeared every now and then, reminding her that math would always follow her everywhere she went. In the air conditioned room, she spoke to the clients without much fear, without much care. The same robotic person sat before them everyday for the eleven’o clock meeting. And the robot smiled the day she saw the face that broke down the poker face. 

“So you work here?” 

“Yes, and I see you’ve made it big as well in the industry.” 

“The power of numbers. So, how’ve you been?” 

“I’m good, work keeps me busy. So nothing happens except for the weekends. It’s a long haul.” 

“Same life here as well. The only exciting part is that I get to see the cities during the meetings.” 

Silence filled between them like the tumor that spread quick. 

“Have you heard from any of them?” 

“Not really, last time we saw; it must have been few years back for the reunion, which you failed to make,” she complained. 

“It was my training period, I never got a chance to get out of the camp.”

“I can understand that. I think you should call them. At least call your best friend.” 

“Maybe I will,” she smiled. 

“The singer one made it big in the industry. I’m sure you’ve heard.”

“Of course, we meet once in two months. Her schedule is busy, so is mine.”

“I’m happy that you maintain contact with at least one from the gang. Time sure is a villain.”

“Sure is.”

“I should leave now, I have a meeting in an hour. It is busy this time of the day.”

“I’ll see you soon then,” they both smiled and exchanged the business handshake. 

The black cordless phone on the cradle stared at her. She had learnt that broken promises were hard to meant. Then again, why fear the broken pieces when there is a chance for mending. She picked up the phone and dialled the number they all used to dial at school for a fun evening. 

“Hello, this is…” his voice rose from the speaker. 

“Hey, this is…” her voice interrupted the feed. 

“Is that you?” 

“Yes it is. Long time huh?” 

“Indeed it is, I thought you had forgotten about those days.” 

“It is hard to erase them. It’s the only fuel that lights up my day.” 

“Glad to know that they’re still alive. So what you’ve been upto?” 

“Really? Eight years has passed and this is the one thing you ask me?” 

He laughed. “I was building up a relationship. It’s what I was taught during training days.”

“You should know I am not a client, and am specifically not interested in the things your company make. We are rivals.” 

“Same old, same old. I can’t believe I am talking to you after so long.” 

“Me neither. It’s like we all have drifted apart. Remember the promise we all made at the night of farewell day?” 

“How can I forget that? It still bothers me. I barely make promises, and I rarely break them.” 

“Ah, this must be hard for you then,” she smiled. “How’s the family?” 

“Good,” he spoke. “The little one started walking, failed miserably. I think she has my genes. How about yours?” 

“Working every hour to save up money. Forgot about building a family in the middle. So, still waiting for the day I can quit and climb those hills.” 

“We thought you’d be the first one to put a ring on it. Expectations do fail.” 

“So, you’ve been travelling?” 

“Travelling at the very moment. The bus rides are the best to be honest.” 

“Where are you off to?”

“I don’t know. Wherever the wind takes me to,” he recited the word he had read somewhere before.  

“You haven’t changed a bit, have you?” 

“I enjoy the weird roughish charm that I’ve maintained since day one. I have swept her off the feet with it.” 

“Yes, that you have done. She being a good wife?” 

“Everyday. She’s the sunshine to my… I don’t know how that sentence ends.” 

“Me neither. Shouldn’t we all get together some day?” 

“Really?” His voice started cracking. He was getting off the route. “It’s been eight years, and now you want to see us.” 

“It’s been eight years for you as well. You could’ve called. You could’ve visited.” 

“You could’ve done all these things as well. We all could’ve. We didn’t. You didn’t.” His voice was breaking even more. 

“At least I had the courage to call you after all these years!” 

“Are you sure about that?”

“Sure about what?” 

“You calling me? Come on, you know that your ego is holding you back from picking up that phone.” 

“Stop messing with my head.” 

“Think about it. You’ve reached for that phone many times, not just today, for the past eight years. Yet, you never made the call. None of us made the call. Why are we keeping such distance when we know we all are close one way or another?” 

“You are joking. I am talking to you right now over the phone.” 

“Don’t hold back. I’ll pick up the call at any odd hour. Let go of what’s holding you back.” The line went dead. 

“Hello?” she spoke again. This time, it was the end tone that replied.