Tick tock tick tock tick tock, I could hear my stilettos clack.
Even after a tiring day of trading stocks and drowning myself in numbers, I walked briskly, getting off the subway onto the road. I could feel every last nerve on my foot pressing against my Jimmy Choo, while the heels made a patterned noise. Whoever said comfort over style, I thought to myself, was definitely not from Manhattan. I felt a shadow move, I took one quick look over my shoulder. The October wind gushed, numbing my face. There was no one.
One double shot expresso for T, he said. T was so much easier than Twisha Srinivasan. Sometimes its in tiny cafes hidden between arrays of greying buildings and yellow flashes on the road, that I find solace. In little patios that open into the Manhattan skyline; just when its getting dark, the buildings begin to glimmer like Christmas fairy lights, I find tranquility. The skyline rises like a curtain for a play that stages the greatest of acts, and one feels like a minuscule pawn in the majestic game.
I picked up my coffee and sat down to devour it. A cigarette bud rolled over to my feet, and the fresh smell of tobacco lingered, settling down on my crisp blouse. I waved my hands frantically and looked back, the fall leaves rustled, the road was empty and there was no one. Odd.
A metallic yellow cab was patiently waiting at the traffic signal, while pedestrians vigorously tried to make it in the 15 second window. A little tot stared at me from the inside of the cab. I winked, smiled and made a baby wave, in my effort to be cute; she thought for a bit and smiled, one that quickly wavered away. I took a sharp right around the corner and continued to walk. I was nearly in two minds to take off my shoes, and walk barefoot, and then I told myself, I'm a Manhattan woman, I should act like one. The road was silent and empty. Tick tock tick tock tick tock, I could hear my stilettos clack.
My tired eyes noticed something strange today, two out of the six street lamps was out, and one was flickering. The street felt dimmer than usual. My house was just off of the six street lamps, and the fact that I could almost see my house, gave me a sense of relief. Relative distance is what made sense to me. The concept of two blocks or yards or meters away, was not something I could fathom. I reassured myself, I'm almost home, almost.
My vision in darkness is a lot poorer than my fellow beings. I saw a dark figure of what looked like an uncouth drunkard, unable to keep his balance. I walked like it dint bother me, with my earphones locked in my ears; only I knew I stopped the music as soon as I entered this street. I strained my eyes to focus. My very mild symptoms of nyctalopia surfaced; what felt like one dark figure, now looked like two. One of them walking steadily while supporting the other by the shoulder. Vision correction, my mind screamed, by the looks of, it needed quicker attention.
I was at the second street lamp, the two of them separated, like a couple who just fought. I contemplated crossing the road in an attempt to avoid them, but my house was still on this side of the road. I thought of turning back and returning to the little cafe and waiting it out, but my tired legs said, you are almost there. My intuition asked me to call the first person on my caller list and walk confidently. My phone read, "Calling Divya", beep beep beep beep, call is waiting. Who the hell is she talking to!! I tried hard not to panic. Or look nervous. I could feel my heart race. Little sweat beads slowly trickled down my temple, despite the October chill. My pace was a lot slower, and my vision of the steady man a lot clearer. I looked around, wondering if there was anyone to help if I screamed. The road was still empty, barring the two. The steady man was now only a stone throw away. As I walked past him, my eyes met his bloodshot eyes, he was probably drunk too. My phone rang, breaking the deafening silence. In the fear that overcame me, I dropped my phone. Anxiously I picked it up, attended to Divya's call explaining the happenings in my mother tongue. While trying to describe their appearance, I turned to get one last look of them. I looked over my shoulder, and there was no one. Eerie I thought. A chill ran up my spine, I din't care if they disappeared, I pulled out my keys and let myself inside.
The warmth of the indoors engulfed me. I could feel my heart stabilizing. There's a certain charm of old brick walls. I mechanically hung my key on the wall, and noticed that the vase with my coral Peonies, was a little out of place. Odd. It's always in the center of the side table, right next to the bowl with the colorful marbles. Always. I can imagine Divya saying, "Gosh, you are such an OCD case.". I fixed it. The peonies now look perfect.
I dragged my feet to my bedroom; I could feel the familiar warmth of my wall - the pleasant shade of beige except for one side that was painted violet; perfectly complimenting my deep purple stripped queen comforter. October is my favorite month in the fall I thought, as I opened the curtains to let some air in. The window was already open, I vividly remember closing them before I left in the morning. Odd. My OCD mind was too tired to think, I changed, brushed and crashed.
I woke up from a knockout sleep; it felt like a long evening leading to the night. My hands looked for my phone, I might be terribly late by Wall Street standards. I found my phone on the floor. It was 8:02am. I squirmed on my bed, it was hard to keep my eyelids from closing. I unlocked my phone and there was a picture of me sleeping. My eyes were now wide open. I was in blue pjs with little pink hearts in the photograph. It is the clothes that I'm currently wearing. But I live alone....
