It was. I remember it vividly, yet my thoughts were so clouded, like
I was there, but my mind was numbed and confused as how that came to
be. I don’t remember entering the movie hall, nor do I even remember
what film it was. I found myself sitting in the front row, all empty.
If there were people in there, they sure knew how not to break the pin
drop silence.

Just as the movie started rolling, she slid into the chair behind
me. I didn’t turn, but knew it couldn’t be anyone else. It could have
been anyone, but there was something about the hall, maybe its
ambience, that hinted that I’d already been here before. A classic deja
vu moment.

I could hear her breathing behind me. Something told me she had her
eyes fixated to the back of my neck instead of the screen. I wanted to
turn, but couldn’t, I couldn’t even move. Id turn to stone, maybe a
tree, as I sat there breathless, motionless, my eyes taking in the
pictures flashing on the screen, but my brain unable to process and
comprehend them.

This went on for about a quarter deep into the movie. There was
still pin drop silence in the hall, even the movie, it seemed, belonged
to the silent era. But I could still hear her breathing, the fabric of
her vest stretching as she took in those tiny gulps of air, and when
she exhaled, I could feel the warm vapor breeze past my hair.

And then leaning forward, she introduced herself, and I could
finally move again. She told me her name. I half turned around to smile
and introduce myself. Looking into those shiny stars that were her eyes
I could hear loud rhythmic beats fill up the aural void of the hall. It
sounded very much like…. heartbeats. Mine? Hers? Ours in unison? I was
unable to distinguish. But beating it was. Alive and fierce. And strong
and steady.

As I turned around, I repeated her name in my head. It was familiar,
I just couldn’t put a face to it. The remainder of the movie, we
watched together; laughing together, secretly crying together, sharing
popcorn, I dont know how that came there, but we were sharing it! As
the movie drew to its climactic conclusion, I knew it was time for her
to leave, and me as well. She just said bye, but the way she said it,
she turned that one single word into a throng of poems, with me
deciphering the varying nuances in them.

All I knew, and all I could make out of it, was that, she would come back.

And she did.

Every night, at the same theatre, we would meet, me in front, her
behind, and we’d watch movies, movies about war, love, suspense,
natural disasters, sci fi, you name it, we watched it. As one.

I knew she was beautiful beyond description, even if I’d never seen
her outside the movie hall. Her voice was sonorous to the core, and
tinged with genuinity. There in the darkness of the movie hall, I
didn’t have to turn back to appreciate her beauty while it was flowing
full force to me, from behind, in the form of her luscious voice. It
had the quality of solid gold; rich, bright, and honest. I was washed
away, then and there.

I was hooked, I craved to hear her every night. Waited with baited
breath every night on that lonesome front row seat, to hear her flow
into hers, and start the converse.

We talked more than we watched. We talked about a million things.
Maybe more. But we never talked about ourselves, the cordial movie hall
relation we shared. We didn’t have to, it was implied, it was
understood, like geese fly in a pack without bumping into one another,
it was simple, yet spectacular. But the things we never talked about
grew into a tumor in our hearts.

Unanswered questions arose, digging deeper into our consciences. I
was aware of the burden she carried in her heart. She was aware of
mine. The answer was conclusive, but it still had to be said out
verbatim as our feelings felt. Its only a matter of time, I had said to
myself, before I took the plunge and stepped forward to embrace her.

We still talked, but every now and then, the ugly stain of
unanswered questions smeared our conversations. It was getting
unnerving for the both of us. She was waiting.

All this while, apart from her I noticed only one other soul in the
cave of the theatre. He wore a cherry red down jacket and had his hair
spiked in an eerily exact manner every time I noticed him. And he
always sat next to her, even though I’d never heard them talk or touch.
I think he was Korean.

I waited for a couple more movies to plan my move, while we talked
and laughed. I’d ask her out. I’d grow a pair and ask her out. I’d do
it tonight! After the movie.

The movie ended, the heartbeats skipped down a couple of decibels.
It was getting louder, and faster, and stronger. I groped my way out of
the darkness and into the red exit sign.

Outside, it was blinding. I was in a quadrangle of sorts. Trees,
distanced a couple of meters away from each other, lined a walkway
towards the outside of the theatre compound. There were a lot of people
there as they made their way home after the movie.

Very vaguely, I saw her, from afar, and knew it had to be her. The
red jacketed Korean was strolling by her side. I yelled, called her
name and ran behind her. She turned and gave me a waning smile as she
recognized me. I didn’t waste no words.

She was more beautiful than I’d imagined. I’m at a loss of words to describe.

Running up to her I gave her a warm hug and a quick peck on her
lips. She stood there dazed. “Will you go out with me?” I asked,
expecting her answer.

Instead, tears rolled down her eyes. Even then she was beautiful. “I
was waiting for you love, but you’re a bit too late. I’m sorry.” she
replied glancing at the Korean.

And once again, I was at a loss. Of words, of emotion, of sanity.

And then I woke up.