The Show

Curtains were drawn. An enthralling show of standup comedy put up by some unknown names came to a close with a thunderous applause. They had delivered what they had promised. The audience was left itching for more. It had gotten over earlier than expected. The audience reluctantly exited the auditorium.

The only soul in the crowd who had been waiting at the entrance throughout the duration of the show was Rijuta. Two tickets in her left hand, her cellphone and purse in her right. She stood near the gate, in the left corner, fiddling with her phone helplessly and taking awkward steps left and right restlessly. She glanced at her watch again, for the umpteenth time. It was thirty-three minutes past seven. He hadn’t turned up. And he didn’t have the courtesy of informing her. It wasn’t normal. She was angry. But more than that, worried.

Gloomy thoughts clouded her mind. Had Raghav met with an accident on the way? Had he some other emergency in the family? Or had he just slept off? Why didn’t he respond to her innumerable texts and calls? Should she have waited outside for some more time? Did he not turn up because he didn’t like her? Was this the end then? She had no answer. But she only hoped that he had only slept off- the unlikeliest of reasons. As she saw the crowd leaving the auditorium, she called his number again.

Jaane kyun log pyaar karte hain?

She never liked his caller-tune. But he wouldn’t budge. This song gave her more reasons to believe it could be worse than what she was expecting. She sighed. He didn’t pick her call up, again.

Inside the auditorium, after the show was over, few enthusiasts had stayed back to meet the cast in the green room in order to get their autograph and chit-chat about their interest in comedy or about the state of live performances in the country, in general.

Raghav was basking in the glory of having successfully enchanted the audience with his maverick comedy. The first event is always special. The air of success only made it sweeter. He was among the most sought-after performers during the ‘autograph time’. He was beaming with pride. But he was worried that he couldn’t find Rijuta. He had expected her to come running to him at the end of the show. But she was nowhere to be seen inside the hall.

Didn’t she like his surprise? Even if she didn’t, why would she leave without meeting him? Did she not recognize him during his performance? But the performers had introduced themselves at the end of the show, he defended in his thoughts. Did she leave the auditorium before they introduced? It was weird. He remembered to have specifically asked her to get a front seat for the two of them, without waiting for him. Did she still wait for him outside? Did she leave because she thought he hadn’t turned up?

As he hurriedly reached the drawer where the performers leave their belongings before taking the stage, he found his phone. 23 missed calls. 7 text messages. As he read through the messages, he realized his mistake. He rushed outside. Rijuta was standing there, sweating. He slowly walked up to her. His eyes met hers. But before he could explain, she had started walking away in anger.

Raghav begged, “Never a surprise again! Sorrrryyyyyyyyy!”