She woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. With half opened eyes she looked at it. There were 25 missed calls and 100 text messages which conveyed more or less the same content.

“I still love you. I miss you so much. Can we meet? I am coming to Australia for a business trip. I will be there for a month”

They were from an unknown number but she knew who it was. He was the last person she expected a call from. Her grip on the phone tightened. The memories that were buried deeply started to resurface.

She walked down her memory lane. On her birthday when she was a sophomore in college she was sitting on the corridor holding her phone and crying.

“I wanted you to be the first to call.How can you forget? How can you not pick up even after me calling you 100 times?”. Lot of other memories were rushing to get out at the same time , 8 years worth of memories, her first love..

“You told that girl proposed you. Why are you still talking with her?Why are you giving her false hope.”

“Did you like the phone? I wanted to give you something memorable with my first salary.“

“Why are you not introducing me as your girlfriend? Do your friends know that you are committed?“

“I am glad you are going to do your masters. Don’t worry I will support you as always. I will wait for you. I wish I could do masters too but my family needs another earning hand.I cannot push all the burden on my brother.”

“Congratulations! I am so glad you got the job! I will wait for you at the station. Can my friends join us too?“

“Its been 4 years since your dad had a heart attack! How can you say that as a reason for not telling your parents about us? Its been a year already and how many alliance do you want me to reject saying worthless petty reasons.“

She recalled the day when she wore a beautiful Saree and went to the mall to meet his mother. He introduced her as a friend..FRIEND! The three of them chatted for a while, had a bite to eat and they said their good byes.

“How can you expect your mom to ask you that if I was your girlfriend. Do you think this a movie where parents say ‘I wish you get married to such a beautiful girl ‘ the moment they see me.You have to let them know.“

“I heard from your friend that you got engaged. Tell me its not true. What the hell? I cannot live without you? Does the past 8 years mean nothing to you? Why are you doing this to me? Please say it is a lie. I beg you.“

All those memories of her first love, first heart break brought tears to her eyes – memories can be so cruel sometimes. She looked at those texts. She clicked on the profile picture. She saw a picture of him, next to him was a beautiful girl holding a baby in hand. She didn’t want to reply him. But her hand pressed on the reply button.

She couldn’t believe she came to see him. Time hasn’t done anything to his looks. He looked the same.He said “I missed you.You are the only one whom I was always in love with”. But she was not listening to him. Aren’t these the words that she always wanted to hear from him but why is she not happy? Her thoughts were muddled – Why am I here? Why did I come? After all these years am I still not over him?

He came close to her. He leaned forward to kiss her. Her hands moved involuntarily and pushed him away.

She heard a voice “What happened dear? Are you alright?” She opened her eyes and saw her husband who was looking at her baffled. Her husband explained “I was about to give you a good-bye kiss as I am starting to office a little early today”.She smiled and sat up, gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek.

Once he left, she checked her mobile. Looks like she feel back asleep so didn’t reply to those texts. She smiled thinking, even in a dream she couldn’t have an affair. And as for him, once a scum always a scum. As for the texts she made sure it went to the place where a low life and a cheater like HIM belonged ‘trash’.