Conversations Between Him & Her

Conversation I

Her : No..I have decided to move on. Let’s part ways. It’s over..it must have been love, but it’s all over now.
Him : Ohh..my God! Don’t talk like this please, I beg of you (Looks like will start crying). There has been no problem between us of late and suddenly you are saying all these. This is unimaginable, please don’t torture me like this. I beg you, I love you very much.
Her : It’s not your fault but I have given it a deep thought. I really can’t share my entire life with you. Problems are bound to happen if we get married. It’s better if we part now. I can’t risk my life like this. I am sorry.
Him : Ohhh! I’ll go mad! ’Risk your life?’ I don’t know what to do, we are supposed to get engaged next month and now you are..(Breaks down)
Her : I am sorry but I have decided already (Looks stern and composed)
Him : But what’s the issue? Tell me what’s the matter. You can’t do this to me, this is injustice, sheer injustice! You are dumping me for no fault of mine, you have to explain. (Shouts helplessly)
Her : I am not bound to explain anything to anybody. I am not bound to clarify anything with you. I feel this relationship will be a major disaster, we are not meant for each other we are poles apart. This is never going to work out.

Him : (Keeps silent, looks sad and dejected)
Her : I love you, I am sorry I lost my cool
Him : (Makes eye contact with Her) I love you too
Her : (Catches hold of His hand)….
…………………………….. Both walk away. Together.

Conversation II
Him : Will you please listen to me once? (Looks terribly disturbed)
Her : (Looks away, adjusts and tosses hair)
Him : Nita is my colleague. Just a colleague nothing more than that. And she’s engaged to someone. You know her well, don’t you?
Her : (Looks straight into his eyes) But an engaged man or a committed lover like you cannot go on lunch dates or evening meet-ups with another woman, I guess Colleague? Who knows you are having an affair with her may be behind my back (Looks furious)
Him : Affair? You must be really crazy. You found me with her that evening in the cafeteria and you can come up with such absurd conclusions? And you say you walked past the coffee shop - why didn’t you come in and join us, if you saw us? We were just discussing a certain business plan, that’s it. (Looks angry and frustrated)
Her : Well I felt it would be none of my business to get into your ‘business plan’ and I didn’t feel like joining you - you guys were having a gala time I saw (Sounds jealous and sarcastic)
Him : For God’s sake, please stop making such stupid comments! This is absolutely ridiculous!(Looks away..)
Her : See, I can’t stand the sight of you with any other woman – colleague, friend, or whatever (Pauses) I am madly possessive about you because I love you very much (Sounds hurt)
Him : Yeah, that’s fine. I also love you darling but believe me nothing’s on with Nita. I can’t imagine anything with any other woman (Looks frustrated)
Her : Well you never told me you will be out with her. We had plans of meeting up that evening but you cancelled saying you’re stuck up in a meeting..
Him : Yes. and it’s true. I was in a meeting with her. And we were joined by other colleagues later on..you could never see that..!
Her : It’s better if you inform me whenever you meet anybody from the opposite gender..that’s the code of conduct in this relationship..(Sounds authoritative)
Him : Ok..ok..(Looks irritated)..I never thought I have to give you every detail of whom I meet with whom I talk irrespective of gender but I’ll do that from now on..I know myself but if you think you need to know with whom I am out on business meetings or anything I will tell you. Because I love you too, and believe that possessiveness in a relationship is natural and important.
Her : Yes, I am very possessive about you. You better understand that and follow my words.

( Next Morning)
Him : (Calls up Her on her mobile)
Her : (Picks up) Hello. Morning. Tell Me
Him : Hi! Good Morning! So we are meeting over lunch at 1 pm. I hope that’s ok with you?
Her : Sorry, I can’t make it today

Him : What? Why? This was decided earlier, I have planned things accordingly, what’s the issue? (Sounds surprised and angry)
Her : Well I can’t, because I am in Bombay right now
Him : What? Bombay? why! and when did you go? and for what? You never told me anything about any Bombay trip yesterday? (Sounds helpless, angry, surprised, frustrated)
Her : It’s a business trip, office trip I came by today morning flight. Will be back tomorrow..(Sounds calm)
Him : Hey! Why didn’t you tell me anything last evening? Why?
Her : Arree! Why are you shouting? It was a sudden decision to come. And you know that I am quite busy professionally why are you creating a mountain out of a molehill? (Sounds angry)
Him : ‘Sudden decision’? You could have told me on your way to the Airport this morning at least. I don’t know what’s happening! (Sounds terribly upset, and tired)
Her : Look here. I am an independent woman and I don’t have to tell everything that’s going on in my life to you, do I? I would have told you later on in the day anyways. please don’t act like an over-possessive moron! I hate all these, if you love me and trust me enough, then please let me be myself and take my own decisions..and now, please keep the phone down. I have a meeting coming up (Sounds angry..)
Him : Hey! Just a minute, just a minute are you alone or other colleagues are there with you too?
Her : Well only me and Ashok you know Ashok, don’t you? nice guy

Him : (Shouts) Ahhh! I see Ashok is there with you that letch of a guy !!
Her : Oh! just shut up! Don’t behave ridiculously and keep the phone now, I have got work. (Sounds impatient..)
Him : Wait, when will you call me. I had to tell you something important.
Her : Well, it will be a long and busy day Work will get over at 7.30 I guess. Then I think we will go for a bit of shopping at Colaba and then some good dinner at an Iranian restaurant may be..ok, you call me at 11 ok? Bye now.
Him : (Keeps silent, doesn’t find words..)
Her : Heyy! What happened! Bye..and listen, please relax! Ashok is just a colleague. That’s it ! (Hangs Up..)

* [‘Conversations’ is dedicated to young, urban, educated, intelligent, liberated and ‘committed’ women of substance, who are modern, and believe in post-modernism’] *

Contributing Writer: Mr. Souvik Banerjee is a professional Economist, and is a Deputy Secretary at the Indian Chamber of Commerce, who heads the Economic Affairs & International Trade Department. He is a Graduate in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and a Post-Graduate in Economics from Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. Prior to Indian Chamber, he has worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Japanese Consulate in Kolkata, Metaljunction Services Ltd., and Bharti Airtel Ltd. His work has revolved around analyzing global, national and sub-national economic trends, preparing sector-specific reports, analyzing and preparing research reports related to trade and globalization, organizing seminars/workshops, mediating between government and industry, etc. He has about 7 research publications, on areas like India-Japan Economic Partnership, Tourism in India, Investment Climate in West Bengal, etc. bansouvik@rediffmail.com