Jatin pushed back into his chair, drinking his cold coffee, reflecting upon the events of the past few days. He was early, Isha wouldn't come for at least 20 minutes yet. Only three days ago, Jatin had escaped a major tragedy and a possible death. Now that the adrenaline surge had subsided and he had gotten over both feeling lucky and feeling afraid, he somehow sensed a new vigor in himself, a new streak of life. Lots of things looked more important, more meaningful than ever before. Isha, his girlfriend, had been there too, of course. It must have been far scarier for Isha and Neha, both of whom were far closer to death than Jatin himself at that moment. Especially Isha. He remembered believing they'd lost her forever. That memory still sent a chill through his spine.
The cold coffee didn't have enough ice.
Neha was Jatin's best friend. He'd known her many years, even longer than he'd known Isha. The two of them were certainly among his closest friends, though there were obviously more people. Still, losing anyone would have been incredibly painful. They were so lucky to escape almost unhurt in that accident, especially considering the injuries of the driver.
They were on a short vacation with friends. Neha, Jatin and Isha were in one car driven by a chauffer. The other two folks followed in a second car. On a tricky treacherous stretch in the hills, the left front tyre suddenly burst and the car lost balance and fell towards the cliff. Isha was sitting in the front next to the driver and Neha right behind her. Both were thrown out of the car, despite seatbelts. Jatin himself was squeezed as the car toppled, but managed to open his door. The driver was hurt and lost consciousness, so it was lucky the car stayed on the road. The other car was a km or two ahead, and jatin saw noone for a minute. Just warm blood trickling on his forehead.
He looked at the watch. Isha should be on time, as usual. He ordered her fav milkshake and a brownie for himself. She couldn't be more than 5-10 minutes away.
He heard her scream again in his head. And then saw neha. She was on a rock, just beside the road, trying to hold onto something. He ran towards her to help her lest she slipped. All he remembered was feeling so so scared for neha. And himself. He yelled, but at that time of the morning, there weren't many cars on this route. Isha was screaming louder. He saw her, hanging by a weak tree branch a couple of feet beneath the road. She was literally in the air with a deep valley under her. Maybe a thousand feet. Maybe more. Don't know. He ran to neha - she lay flat on the rock and jatin didn't know if she was fully conscious and stable. He gave her a hand, she held back. She was alright, a tough girl. He supported her back up on the safe ground. She was so scared. She held jatin so tightly, almost crying. Jatin wanted to cry as well. That moment, as he turned his glance to isha, he didn't see her anymore. The tree branch had snapped or isha had slipped. He was hearing her, but something inside him sunk. He'd lost isha. He pushed neha to sit and ran to see isha. He was shivering. But there she was. Only ten feet below was a landing of sorts where she'd fallen, and somehow managed to hold on. She was quiet, but jatin started screaming. For a couple of minutes no one did anything. Another car had come by now. The driver was a local, he pulled out rope from his car and guided and helped isha get back up from a safer angle. Miraculously neither one of them were seriously hurt. Neha found a working phone and called the rest of the gang. With some first aid from the local driver - his name was ramnath, such a helpful guy - all of them felt safe to travel. Even their driver was conscious, though quite hurt. The car was a wreck.
Noone spoke much on the way back home. Neha was still scared - even yesterday when he met neha, she felt emotionally overwhelmed. He spent almost the full day with her, and by the end both of them could laugh about it. He himself felt almost joyous by now - like he'd won a medal. It was quite justifiable though, they'd escaped a catastrophe.
He hadn't seen or even spoken much with Isha since coming back. She was a strong girl, she would've coped better. She had been very very quiet though all the time. For a second, Jatin felt worried about Isha. Then he told himself he would find out in a few minutes anyway. But where was Isha?
He called her but she didn't pick up. He dropped a text. The milkshake had arrived. The TV in the cafe was showing highlights of last night's match. Arsenal had lost from an unbelievable position. Just then isha walked in. He smiled and got up to give her a hug. But she wasn't looking straight at him. She just took the seat across Jatin's and said Hi.
"Hey, how are you? I ordered your milkshake!"He started eating his brownie.
"thanks. how are you doing?"
"Great. I was telling neha also this yesterday, somehow after that accident, I think I found fresh meaning and respect for life and the things and people in my life...is that cut still hurting?"
"A bit. Yeah, I understand. I think that accident changed my life too. I am glad you're ok"
"I am so glad none of us got hurt bad. Even surinder is okay - I spoke to him this morning. He's out of the hospital."
"Yeah, I know...I needed to discuss something with you?"
"Hmm?"
"I think...that accident...I could have died...it made me see things around me more clearly"
"I know what you're saying"
"No you don't. I think we should break up"
"What? Are you serious? Why? What are you saying?" This didn't feel right.
"I am. I realized you don't feel the same way about me as I do for you. I am not as important, and will never be. I realized because I always knew this, I don't even love you anymore. It's ironic, I know. I must have just stopped loving you over time without knowing. But now I know. And..and hence we are over"
Jatin didn't understand what was happening. Isha looked like she would break down with hysteria any second, but she wasn't crying. She was just saying some crap like she meant it.
"So you don't love me any more?"
"No"
"And you're blaming it on me saying I don't think you're important for me! Do you know what I went through?" He was nearly yelling.
"I didn't say I wasn't important to you, but not in the same way. That imbalance..I can't live with it anymore"
"No"
"Yes. Think about it. When you saw me hanging at the tree, screaming for help...think of that moment. And answer to yourself. Who did you fear losing more? Who did you save first? Don't tell me. Just think. It is what it is. And life is too short to live on lies or even half-truths. You could have lived without me. You can. Knowing this, even I can."
"..but"
"..this is tough. I care a lot about you and this will be painful. But it has to be done. Trust me. Sorry"
Isha stood up and started walking. Jatin called her name but she didn't stop.
Life isn't fair.
Jatin kept some money on the table and walked out as well, not knowing how one could have his front tyre bursting twice in three days. There were too many questions.
The milkshake kept lying there till it was warm.
