11.15pm
I shut down the computer and switched off the lights and sat by the bed side, eyes closed. I didn't know what to tell her the next day. I knew the night would be long as i reluctantly walked out of bed, got the ear phones plugged in and randomly hit a song. I listened to the song four times, and sleep was still far away. I searched for the bottle of water but it wasn't beside the bed, walked out in to the balcony and looked at the skies. It was way too dark but I stood there for a while. I thought she gave me her pain to grip and it was hurting me badly. 12.30 am, I walked in and turned on the computer and searched my collection of movies. I dragged one on to the media player and plugged in the earphones again. 2 am, I shut down the computer and walked towards the bed again, perhaps forcing sleep this time. I slept till my wife called me up with a black tea and reminded it's time to drop her at the railway station.
10.45 am, Caryn logged in.
Caryn: Hi, how are you buddy?
Me: Hi, Not too great .I couldn't sleep well last night.
Caryn: Oh, even me, I couldn't but I slept more coz of my tired body.
Caryn: Give me 10 minutes; I shall get back to you.
45 minutes passed, Her status said 'idle', perhaps she was caught up in some paper work.
Caryn: I am back. Was busy.
Me: I am going to start charging you for keeping me waiting.
Caryn: Lol, but who will pay you?
Me: Your dad, ofcourse.
Caryn: Lol, don't bring in daddy here buddy, poor soul.
Caryn: You have two options, either to wait or to wait… Lol
Me: Ok I will take the second option then. :)
Me: You carry on with your work, we shall catch up later.
Caryn: Ok , i shall meet you in the evening.
Caryn: Cya.
Me: Be Safe , bye.
Caryn: You too, bye.
Couple of meetings during the day, I was finished. I hit bed at around 7.30 pm. Kept looking for a messenger alert from Caryn. I was woken up by the bell chime notification on the phone as Caryn came online, I looked at the watch, it was 11.15 pm.
Caryn: Hey, are you awake?
Me: No I was sleeping, am online on the phone.
Caryn: Oh sorry, get back to sleep then.
Me: It's fine, you tell me, How was the day?
Caryn: Tiring as usual, I am forced to do some support works too.
Me: Why not talk to your General Manager then?
Caryn: Yeah, I need to.
Caryn: There were some water issues at the accommodation area.
Caryn: And a construction mishap also.
Caryn: A worker had an accident; Thank God he is ok now.
Caryn: Have a headache, had a black tea. Thought I will check if you were around.
Caryn: So did you think about my life bud.
Me: Yeah I was thinking about you all the time in office.
Caryn: I need to add on this too…
Caryn: December 19 was his birthday. We went out for a drive, dropped in at Taj and had coffee. On our way back he was looking at me as I talked, asked unexpectedly if he could hold my hand. I said no. We were quiet for a while. Then I started talking again. Half an hour later he asked me if I could stay with him that night. I denied and asked him to leave me at home. We parted, although a little strained.
Caryn: December 25, Christmas day. He called me and said he wanted to see me. First Christmas away from home, he said. I called up my best friend, Ann and asked her opinion. I couldn't get her on the phone. I opened up the bible for a bit of guidance. My heart wanted to be with him.
Caryn: We met at a friend's flat. Talked endlessly … I slept with him that night.
Me: What?
Caryn: Yeah I did, I didn't tell you about this yesterday.
Caryn: I was a virgin at 35, he was shocked.
Caryn: I made a mistake buddy.
I was shocked too, I felt sorry for Caryn. I couldn't move an inch and I didn't know what to say.
Caryn: Hey, I got to go now. My sister is calling for dinner and our friends are here too.
Me: What do I say now? I wish you stayed for while.
Caryn: You take care, I shall call you tomorrow, Stay blessed, bye.
I was in a whirlwind by then, I woke up and sat by the bedside holding my head in my hands and wondered why Caryn had to come online and transfer all the stress on to me. I sent her a text at 12.30 am saying, 'Thanks for keeping me awake dear ... :)' she replied back saying 'Sorry, you don't bother about me. I had to tell someone about it. Talk to you in the morn'. I turned on the computer and decided to mail her about it.