The following day it rained heavily. People crossing down the road, holding black umbrellas and wearing black coats. The sky grey and the weather dull and calm. Vehicles waiting patiently for the traffic light to signal green. It was a Monday morning, though, but it seems like an ordinary weekend days where no one is ever busy. The banks was filled up with customers and clients. Staffs attending to them one after the other as they stand on a queue. Thunder, storms, lightening blooming the sky to crack into heavy sound. The bank is not a place for shelter or shades but some people have to hide in for no option.
A man having standing behind a young pearl lady for minutes now, won't keep his mouth shut as he speaks over the phone to his wife. He kept on telling her how much he loves her, care for her and won't let her leave his sight. He kept on telling her how she's the only treasure he has and all of the praises.
As a matter of fact, the woman standing in front of him, waiting to be attended to, was fuming constantly, fighting to uphold the little urge of busting at him. She is heartbroken, traumatized by her past relationship and she is ready for revenge. But to her, that one masculine voice chuckling on his call behind her sounds so familiar.
She is very well wanting and eager to look back but then, the cashier called for her turn. "Hello, ma'am. Can I see your receipt?" The woman gladly gave it to the cashier. But while cross-checking, the air-conditioner or maybe fan, assuming a cool wind from somewhere, suddenly blew the receipt from the counter to the ground.
The woman bend down to pick it up, same time, the man standing behind her – on the phone call, also bend over to help her but then, their hands met, touching each other's.
At the time the woman lifted her head to see the man who was so polite and nice to help her, she jolted on her toes. "Justin?" He also whispered back at her, "Priyanka?" They froze like that in the same posture for seconds. The woman can't believe who she's seeing likewise the man too.
The woman quickly stood back on her feet, ready to dismiss from his presence. She gave the receipt to the cashier and hurriedly states, "Please attend to me quickly. Let me my cash, I need to buy cooking gas." She sounded desperate and need of something. The man initiated to touch her shoulder but just then, the sound of breaking glasses interrupted the hall. "Everybody down now!"
Bunglers, bandits, criminals, they barge in through the window, wearing black masks on their faces, black and black complete outfit and holding large guns. They were surely armed and ready to blow off the skulls of many that will disobey them. They were likely to find rich people first. The ones that are wealthy and came to bank some money in their accounts.
Their eyes went all round in search of famous rich people who had come to the bank today. The security men would have done something to stop them but these guys were surely armed and set for them today. It has been a long time since they last heard the news of thieves robbing the banks.
With all heads down and people lying on the floor, some hid behind the shelves, cabin, counters and desks for their lives. The man on call few minutes ago, pulled the woman requesting for money to buy gas, with him into the back of a big brown shelf. The ground slipped him and he fell landing on top of her. When she wanted to squeal, he covered her mouth, causing her eyes to grow big.
Their hearts beating and pounding so fast than they could count. They kept on staring into each other's eyes like they had just seen a ghost. He didn't want to crush her, he didn't want to hurt her with his weight, so, he wedge himself up on his arms which where on her sides.
The criminals kept doing their thing. Kicking people on the floor and pointing guns at them, asking them to take out all the money they've come to withdraw at the bank. The woman underneath this man feared for her life, but this man promised her that everything will be alright. He assured her that, the police will be here any moment from now.
No! She doesn't need his assurance anymore. A good player who knew the in and outs of a bad game. She had been used once in the past but this same guy. She won't allow herself to be used again. While some of the bandits went upstairs to get the manager down, some forcefully made the cashiers bring out the money from the automatic teller machine.
The man wanted to whisper something to the woman underneath him, but it's too risky and there's no opportunity for him to do that when bunglers are in their presence. What if they heard them talking or whispering? They'll be doomed. He continued looking down into the woman's eyes intently like he could see himself in her iris. She was panting, his hand still covering her mouth.
Shortly, the police broke in. "FBI!" Their guns pointed at them,. "Your hands above your head now! I repeat, hands above your heads or we will shoot!" Nobody wants to die. Only those alive could still hustle, isn't it?
The thieves quietly obeyed, submitting themselves to the cops. When the area was clear and out of danger, the man stood up and reciprocate the chance of talking with the lady but before he could utter a word or move a single step close to her, she already dismissed the environment. He stood there, staring out of the broken window at the woman running down the walkway under the heavy rain.
What he came to do in the bank was suddenly meaningless. He lost her before, he can't lose her again. He hurried out of the bank, got into his car and demand a chase after her. "Go! Go! Go! The woman on red Punjabi suit." He instructed his chauffeur and the old man kicked the gas pedal to the highway.
Unfortunately for him, he missed her. No trace of her anywhere. He lost her again. "Damn it!" She was gone into thin air like six months ago. His phone rings, interrupting his mood. It's his wife calling, "Honey, I heard that the New York bank just got robbed now. Where are you? Are you safe? Are you hurt?"
Worried, worried, worried. The man hesitated, "Yes, I'm fine. I'll be on the next flight to Kentucky soon." He hung up and demanded a quick drive from the chauffeur. It was his only opportunity, another chance of meeting with her and he just missed it. How could he?
He felt so disappointed in himself. He still blames himself for throwing her away months ago. She looked so different when he saw her. Keeping her underneath him from the bad guys was like a mother hen protecting her chicks from the hawks. It was the greatest thing he felt he has done for a woman since his lifetime. He took his phone out and called one of his investigators to find the woman at all cost. He has never been this desperate before. Even though he is still married, he will do everything and anything in his might to keep her with him.
His eyes went down to the ring on his finger. No! This wasn't his wedding ring. This was his engagement ring with her and he remember seeing her still wearing the same ring he purposed to her when she was in college on her finger few minutes ago. She was still wearing it and it amused him to wonder why. After all the things that happened, why did she prefer to keep the ring? Women in her shoes would have sold it long ago. And secondly, what happened to her hair? She looked so….. different and beautiful the more.
He used to love the length of her hair, why did she cut it? He used to braid it and plait it whenever they go to the beach and...where is the wristband on her wrist? He noticed so many changes in her in the last few minutes he saw her. He almost didn't recognize her by the way.
He think he needs a cold vintage drink in the plane.