8 chapter - 8 Does autumn last?

The autumn of 2000, lately after Durga puja , shortly before I left my home town Reema would always find me curious and lost.

She asked up one fine day what the matter was , I couldn't give in to her request, because I was pretty sure she would be devastated with my choice , rather my destiny, which I alone was choosing , I repeat I alone. We were at her room , taking how messed up Indian politics was , wanted to sound like grown ups probably at that point of time. ' Its windy outside, wanna go round at the rooftop, get some air maybe?' I ask. She agrees and we hit the stairs right away.

It was blustery and there was a tint of winter in the air, it gave chills when it blew for long which made Reema carry her mom's shawl which I liked fidgeting with , It was my habit since I was three or four, and aunt Reema loved it , I guess so , because she never mentioned having any issues about it.

' I wish we could have some coffee, with little more sugar added' she spoke up distinctly looking at me with a rather calm and cold smile, just like the air that was playing with her hair every time it was whisking with her and she troubled by her hair was trying to keep in the best shape possible, she never liked to tie it, yes she would braid them often but she was of the impression that I did not like her braids, which absolutely was her own supposition. The whole situation was halcyon.

I nodded ' Your orders are my duty.' I answered

' Enough with those cheesy lines Nischit, shut it' she said.

Soon after I returned with a couple of coffee cups arranged in a courteous way, on a floral food tray, she ran towards me barefooted , grabbed one of them and moved away. I kept the food tray and edged closer to the parapet of the roof top.

'So, you've made your decision it seems' she said, with a rather not so comfortable tone, I'd say.

'You know it as well as I do' I said.

'you left the roof door open I suppose?' she exclaimed.

'umm, yes, why?' I hesitated while saying so.

'slam it' said Reema, with more of a dominative tone. I shut the door and as soon I as I turned behind I could smell the essence of freshly prepared coffee from her lips, she moved in close and as soon as I tried to get past her, foolishly of course she stopped me on my way to my cup of coffee and pushed me against the hard metal door, and closed her eyes , as if knowing what my next move was going to be, I grabbed her by her neck and shifted the strand of hair that was bothering her , as per my assumption though and asked her

'Can I?'

She looked at me with eyes that said 'Go on!'

I Thrusted my tongue down hers, she left slow moans , too faint to be heard, I slowly moved myself towards her neck and pecked my lips against her, it was soft and gentle, too similar to her lips, we kept going on and on for quite some time and finally she broke the ice.

'Hey, Nischit'

'That is my name' , I said gazing into her eyes, which were like a vast meadow.

' The coffee, ummm, its frozen by now I guess!' she exclaimed.

' I guess so!'

We walked over to the parapet and were surprised to find out that the coffee did not turn cold.

' So we can complete it I guess?' she questioned me.

'umm, I don't get it' I replied, a bit confused.

' The coffee, Nischit' she says laughing harder than usual. We started sipping the coffee together and she finished before I did. Everything was quite for the time being. The sound of  vehicles far away could be heard. The wind wrestled with the coconut and pine trees, bending them over greater angles , making them seem weak. I asked her to hand her cup of coffee and hit the stairs , while she closed the metal door right behind us which made a loud slamming sound whenever it was closed.

My heart skipped a beat that very moment.