It was a beautiful evening and I was alone in the house as I returned from office. I was looking forward to enjoying the setting sun from my private terrace, so I made myself a pot of tea with ginger and mint and with some fine biscuits and other accompaniments neatly arranged in a tray, I entered the terrace.

I placed the tray on the marble table and sat comfortably in the garden chair so I could see the road below. Dusky evening light filtered through the series of Ficus trees planted on the edge of our terrace. A gentle breeze brought in the whiff of a magical romantic touch with aroma of tea lifting my spirit.

I contentedly sunk further into the chair, feeling generally happy, looking beyond at some homing birds and thinking nothing in particular, having poured myself some tea when my phone rang.

“Hello!” “Vishal, this is Gita speaking. How are you?” as if I could not read her name on my mobile!

“I am fine” I said to this old chatterbox colleague and friend of mine from Mumbai as I sipped my tea.

“Listen Vishal, I am organizing a get-to-gether of our old buddies next week, some of whom are here from abroad on their vacation. You also make it and no excuses this time. Last time you missed.” and she rattled of the names of colleagues attending and asked me to confirm my participation.

One name stood out. That of Arpita! I had not seen her in last four decades though many of the memories associated with her were ever fresh in my mind, as if it was just yesterday. Wow! And I wondered how memories do not age with us. They forever seem to remain like the Peter Pan who always remains young and never becomes an adult. I had also read that he represents planet mercury which controls memories and rules zodiac signs of Gemini and Virgo.

I remember, to my mind then, Arpita was one of the most attractive, kind looking and smart young woman whom anyone of our other colleagues would have liked to befriend. I was one of them. Gita had also hinted about her inclinations for me then. But I was shy then.

I clearly remember that incident, some forty years ago, when I had entered our office cafeteria for an afternoon tea. The tables were all taken. There was however only one chair left, next to Arpita.

“May I?” I had said and she had said “of course!” and I had taken my seat next to her. That was a small table only for two and I felt we were literally alone even in the office crowd. I could not miss the extra flush of her cheeks as she seemed eager to make some trivial conversation.

I had however felt awkward then and was lost for words. I usually drank only one cup of tea and a bit faster then, which was stupid at such times, I realized later. I could not engage in a good conversation in spite of her promptings. Conscious of the glares from other colleagues, forgetting my manners I had soon said, “will you excuse me?” as I prepared to get up after some twenty minutes of awkward shyness of mine (and a wasted opportunity).

I can never forget how she had blurted out “you are not excused!” now very evidently pink in her cheeks having mustered enough courage to make a statement of her heart.

I almost wanted to ask “not excused for life?” but I missed the moment, couldn’t mutter words that would have mattered, a stupid dumb person I was then and life changed its course…..we went our different ways.

And to think that I had opportunity to meet same Arpita again after so many years….how would it be now? I could not prevent myself from imagining how life would have been if I had muttered the right words then! As I tried I could not even imagine a life with Arpita as I had not known her well enough and knew very little of her likes and dislikes except some few things and so could not conjure up even a romantic side of a possible life with her….and yet strangely I was looking forward to meeting her again!

I picked up the phone to confirm to Gita, when it rang again before I could dial Gita’s number.

This time it was my wife on the other side.”Listen, my work here is over and I will be starting tomorrow and will be reaching home the day after. What have you planned for our thirty fifth anniversary next week? We need to make it special, as our daughter and grandson are also travelling with me to be with us for the occasion!”

“OK I will do what is needed” I said with a sigh and we discussed other trivia before we disconnected.

I looked at the setting sun and looked around terraces of many other buildings around and wondered what their residents might be thinking when they have their tea in their private terraces. There was some more tea in the pot, biscuits were gone but I didn’t feel like having more tea once again…

I took my Peter Pan, tied his hands and wings and placed him in the cupboard as I wrote to Gita.

”Dear Gita,

Thanks for the invite. God alone knows how much I wanted to come. However you will have to excuse me this time as well! Will make it some other time… Vishal”