The Forlorn Relationship

‘Sarika’…..’Sarika’…..’Sarikaaa’

She must have been about 100 meters away from me. But as I was walking faster, she too started speeding up. It was clear she was getting away. Sarika was pretending to ignore me and soon vanished around the corner. I saw her entering Rahul’s building. It was apparent that she got a richer suitor. And that fact was all the more difficult to digest because I may not be rich, but I’m definitely a much better human being. And I always treated her with respect. As I continued shouting from a distance, I could imagine myself looking like a TV actor repeating a name thrice just for dramatic effect. But this was no drama, this was real life. And it was hitting me hard.

Just a few minutes back, I was loitering aimlessly in my building compound, like a child separated from his parents at a mall – hopeless and dejected. Naturally I was ecstatic to spot her. We had a lot to talk about. Leaving someone midway is definitely not justified. Especially when you have so much invested in a relationship. It’s not just the time and money, such relationships go to the realm of holistic hygiene and well being. And the best part is, her actions had a direct bearing on the cleansing of my ambiance. I started appreciating my surroundings in a whole new light because of her. Suddenly my living space appeared clear, airy and bathed in light.

(cue relevant flashback Bollywood background track) It started out as a casual encounter in the building elevator. I noticed that she was going to the floor above mine. In the coming days we bumped into each other a few more times. Perhaps I was the one trying to match my time deliberately to coincide with hers? A couple of stolen glances later, we exchanged smiles and names. I mustered up courage and asked for her phone number.

There was a definite feeling of déjà-vu here. Had I seen her somewhere before? More than that, it felt as if I had been in this particular scene before.

Since both of us were working, it was hard to figure out a mutually convenient time. In the initial days I used to call her over in the evenings. But the crazy and unpredictable traffic ensured that many of our rendezvous had to be cancelled. So we decided that early morning would be best. Since she anyway was coming to my side of the town, it made perfect sense. And if time permitted we tried to hook up in the evenings too. Weekends were especially memorable because she could spend longer time in the evenings. She sometimes even cooked for me!

And then the inevitable happened. All of a sudden my world turned upside down and started disintegrating. She started avoiding my calls and would walk away if she noticed me from a distance. She would cancel out at the last minute and the reneging became a regular occurrence soon.

My perfect life seemed to be crumbling, brick by brick, and day by day. And along with my life, my house too started turning into a mess. Without her it seemed so difficult to manage things, as if I was handicapped.

They say you realize the value of someone only when the person isn’t in your life. And her exit proved it for me.

And that my dear readers, is the story of my (ex) maid – Sarika.