(continued from here)
Anna anxiously followed the unknown footmarks. Every successive mark was becoming harder to spot. They led her to the main street, after which, she couldn't see any more marks.
She felt abashed at the thought of having lost her son. What made things worse was that she still couldn't remember how or why she made it to the park, that evening. She blamed herself for her recklessness and negligence.
Running over the last few events in her head, she finally recalled that she had been to a friend's house - a party infact.
The rooftop had been exquisitely decorated with fancy lights and there were tonnes of people all around. Most of them were drunk out of their minds and were dancing in a reckless and awkward manner. A few sat by the makeshift bar and gulped down their drinks enjoying the sight of the frenetic dancers.
The host of the party could be seen making hospitable conversation to the guests. When he came to where Anna was sitting, his expression changed to a charming smile and he offered her his hand.
After her divorce with her husband things went pretty downhill for her. People opined that it was probably for alimony. Only a few people truly understood what had made Anna take that irrevocable step. Greg was one of them.
She had met him in her undergrad university. Initially a shy and reserved person, Greg quickly opened up to her. Both of them coming from orphan backgrounds, could relate to each other very well.
Their friendship stood the test of time with countless sacrifices being done for each other.
Presently, she accepted his invitation and got up.
"Up for a drink, Annie?"
"You know I don't like to drink."
"A little will do you good."
Receiving a reluctant gesture of affirmation, he notioned to the bartender to prepare two drinks.
The bartender returned a few moments later with two identical glasses filled with a intense violet fluid - an '05 Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards of California - one of the finest wines ever to be brewed.
Giving Annie a cheeky wink, he handed her one of the two glasses.
"This one is specially for you, Madam!"
Greg looked at him disapprovingly and took took the other glass. But the bartender couldn't care less.
As they sipped their drinks, they felt the warmth and calm surging through their bodies. Deeply immersed in prattle, they hardly noticed the time flying, until a few guests started to leave. They bid adieu and Anna took a cab home.
By then, the effect of the drink had worn out and she was now overcome by a splitting headache and was feeling a bit dizzy. She saw a note lying on her dining table. Gently picking it up, she unfolded it to find her son's squiggly handwriting.
"Homework done mom.
Dinner was awesome.
Come home fast.
Love you <3"
She heard her phone beep, indicating the newly arrived message.
Unable to remember anything after that, she hurriedly took out her phone from her pocket and browsed through her messages. The last few had been from an unsaved number.
"Hey Annie!
Surprise for you and little Ben. Meet me at the park tomorrow at 9am :) "
"Sorry, but who's this?"
"It's me, Greg. I've got this new number for keeping contact with close friends. These office guys don't leave me alone. Now I'll just dunk my other phone in the loo when I want peace :P
I forgot to mention about it to you today"
"Oh cool! See you there"
She began speculating. She would've bought Ben an ice cream. While eating he would've dropped it and being the stubborn brat that he was, he would've made sure that he got another one.
Greg would've taken him to buy one more.
But she didn't recall seeing Greg in the park. Rather, she couldn't recall anything.
Nevertheless she called back on his new phone. No reply.
She tried his old number.
"Wassup Annie!"
"Where are you? Is Ben with you?"
"I'm at my place but why would Ben be with me?"
"But you texted me from your new number saying you have a surprise for us at the park!"
"I don't know what you're talking about Ann. This is my only number."
Anna anxiously followed the unknown footmarks. Every successive mark was becoming harder to spot. They led her to the main street, after which, she couldn't see any more marks.
She felt abashed at the thought of having lost her son. What made things worse was that she still couldn't remember how or why she made it to the park, that evening. She blamed herself for her recklessness and negligence.
Running over the last few events in her head, she finally recalled that she had been to a friend's house - a party infact.
The rooftop had been exquisitely decorated with fancy lights and there were tonnes of people all around. Most of them were drunk out of their minds and were dancing in a reckless and awkward manner. A few sat by the makeshift bar and gulped down their drinks enjoying the sight of the frenetic dancers.
The host of the party could be seen making hospitable conversation to the guests. When he came to where Anna was sitting, his expression changed to a charming smile and he offered her his hand.
After her divorce with her husband things went pretty downhill for her. People opined that it was probably for alimony. Only a few people truly understood what had made Anna take that irrevocable step. Greg was one of them.
She had met him in her undergrad university. Initially a shy and reserved person, Greg quickly opened up to her. Both of them coming from orphan backgrounds, could relate to each other very well.
Their friendship stood the test of time with countless sacrifices being done for each other.
Presently, she accepted his invitation and got up.
"Up for a drink, Annie?"
"You know I don't like to drink."
"A little will do you good."
Receiving a reluctant gesture of affirmation, he notioned to the bartender to prepare two drinks.
The bartender returned a few moments later with two identical glasses filled with a intense violet fluid - an '05 Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards of California - one of the finest wines ever to be brewed.
Giving Annie a cheeky wink, he handed her one of the two glasses.
"This one is specially for you, Madam!"
Greg looked at him disapprovingly and took took the other glass. But the bartender couldn't care less.
As they sipped their drinks, they felt the warmth and calm surging through their bodies. Deeply immersed in prattle, they hardly noticed the time flying, until a few guests started to leave. They bid adieu and Anna took a cab home.
By then, the effect of the drink had worn out and she was now overcome by a splitting headache and was feeling a bit dizzy. She saw a note lying on her dining table. Gently picking it up, she unfolded it to find her son's squiggly handwriting.
"Homework done mom.
Dinner was awesome.
Come home fast.
Love you <3"
She heard her phone beep, indicating the newly arrived message.
Unable to remember anything after that, she hurriedly took out her phone from her pocket and browsed through her messages. The last few had been from an unsaved number.
"Hey Annie!
Surprise for you and little Ben. Meet me at the park tomorrow at 9am :) "
"Sorry, but who's this?"
"It's me, Greg. I've got this new number for keeping contact with close friends. These office guys don't leave me alone. Now I'll just dunk my other phone in the loo when I want peace :P
I forgot to mention about it to you today"
"Oh cool! See you there"
She began speculating. She would've bought Ben an ice cream. While eating he would've dropped it and being the stubborn brat that he was, he would've made sure that he got another one.
Greg would've taken him to buy one more.
But she didn't recall seeing Greg in the park. Rather, she couldn't recall anything.
Nevertheless she called back on his new phone. No reply.
She tried his old number.
"Wassup Annie!"
"Where are you? Is Ben with you?"
"I'm at my place but why would Ben be with me?"
"But you texted me from your new number saying you have a surprise for us at the park!"
"I don't know what you're talking about Ann. This is my only number."
(continued here)
