As she had finished her shopping, Nancy began to walk home. She tried to finish up things quickly but it still took time. It was now getting dark and the road was sparsely populated. Suddenly, Nancy felt that somebody was following her. She started walking fast with fear, without looking behind. When she realized that she as being followed, she increased her pace.
“Nancy ...” somebody called out to her from behind.
She stopped for a moment and then continued.
“ Nancy” the voice came again from behind.
From the sound, she could sense that the one calling from behind her may not have had an ill intention. Nancy turned back to look who was calling, whilst still walking.
As she saw John, she abruptly stopped. Expressions of irritation crept over her face.
What the hell he was doing here?...
It’s getting too much that he is following me everywhere..
John approached her, holding a flower bouquet.
“Why are you following me?”
John did not say anything. .
“For God’s sake stop following me” she said with great annoyance.
Nancy turned in disgust and walked away. John followed her although keeping some distance.
Sensing John’s steps again, she stopped angrily. John gathered his nerve and offered her the bunch of flowers, holding them out in front of her,
“ I'm sorry...” he kept repeating his usual phrase.
Nancy frowned.
“ I swear, I mean it.” He continued.
Nancy angrily tucked a few of her stray hairs behind her ear. John thought she was going to slap him again. He backed away, closing his eyes in fear. Nancy realized why he closed his eyes. Nancy burst out laughing. She could not stop laughing, seeing his innocent childlike fearful expressions. Her anger had disappeared. John opened his eyes; kept looking at her as she jogged further away. After moving some distance, Nancy turned, looked at John, and smiled mischievously. John acknowledged her smile yet was confused. She took a turn and disappeared. Though she had disappeared, John was smiling alone, as if in a trance. He was recalling again and again her smiling face.
Did she smile, really?...
Or was it just a hallucination?
No.. no. How it could be?...
It’s true that she smiled...
Shall I assume that she has accepted my apology...
Yes I can assume so...
But her smile was not just a smile...
There was something else hidden in her smile...
What was it?..
John was trying to decipher the hidden meaning. And as he got it, a similar, in fact, the same smile crept onto his face too.
...to be continued in next post ...
Original Novel by Sunil Doiphode
English Version by Adam Hughes
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