LABYRINTH

           

           

             I just sat there, watching her, listening closely to all she said over the phone. I suddenly realized that I had stopped reading the Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, now focusing my gaze on her. Amusedly, I twitched my lips at every “love word” that came out of her mouth.

            Cynthia was on the phone with her boyfriend, talking endlessly with so much passion and I could hear her high-pitched voice through her unbearable laughter. She could have easily become the choir mistress of our St. Steven’s chaplaincy without singing a note.

            “Hahaha… are you serious? Hmmm… So when are you coming back?... Wow! I can’t wait to lay my hands on you… oh my God! I love you dearie…”

            She just went on and on seeming to care less about anyone and anything else. I concluded at that moment that Jerry was definitely coming back to the country as he had spent the last five years, reading Medicine at the famous Massachusetts University. She finally hung up and turned sharply to me.

            “Nne, this one you have been staring at me, ogini? She asked, intensely looking at me as though she could pierce my trembling face with her bulgy eyes.

            Cynthia, my elder sister was fond of calling me that, nne, which made me melt even at the heat of my anger. I thought she had not noticed. I actually thought she was so engrossed in her call to notice my unsolicited look at her. Maybe I was buying into Pip’s great expectation in Charles Dickens’ book, but this time, not to be rich and live in the city, but to simply have my own boyfriend whom I can talk so excitedly to.

            “Nothing really…sis…” I stammered. I just couldn’t find the right words or probably, my lips where not just ready to move anymore.

            “It’s ok, I know what you were thinking about. As a matter of fact, Jerry is finally coming back and you know… I can’t just wait to get married to him. He is simply the best.” She said, smiling ear to ear.

            This got me thinking, how can Jerry be the best? This meant that Cynthia had tried all the men, if not in this world, but at least, in the country and had chosen Jerry as the best. I thought for a while, can love be real? Can I have the perfect relationship? Can I really have this BEST man someday in my life…?

            I didn’t notice Cynthia leave the room, as I was clouded with my thoughts. I only found out that I was all alone; alone with my thoughts, alone with my expectations of having him, the BEST…