The Left Glove
‘It is too much snowing this year.’ The old man said to the young man who came to visit him in his remote cabin.
‘Yes. It is cold inside the home too. I think some of your windows need repair.’ the young man said, looking around.
‘You don't have to worry. I have asked Murty to get a carpenter. He will do it.’
‘Did Murty come to see you?’
‘Oh, you already know him? He is my helper for a long time now. He was my manager until we bankrupted.’ The old man looked for Murty. ‘Murty… make some coffee, no?’
‘Murty has joined my company.’ the young man shocked the old man.
‘Oh, that's what this meeting is about, then? Is it true Murty? You have joined this gentleman’s company? After all these years?’ the old man shouted towards the kitchen with complete despair. His voice cracked.
‘He joined my company a year back. He is not here right now.’
‘Of course, I know. It was me who fired him.’ The old man gave a firm smile. ‘What would you like to eat? We get too hungry too soon, being alone here in the woods.’
‘Are you hungry?’
‘What? No. I’m full. I had a heavy lunch. I’m thinking of skipping supper too.’
‘What did you eat?’
‘Food. Good food. Like… something I made. I’m forgetting these days. Need to work on my memory.’ The old man smiled.
‘Okay. Shall we go out for coffee or a quick snack?’ the young man asked.
‘Yea. I’m glad you asked. I was thinking of a good reason to take my car somewhere.’ The old man stood up and went near the window. ‘If we don’t start the engine for too long, it will cease and they will tow your beloved vehicle away.’ The old man frowned, looking out of the window. The vehicle was not there.
‘We will go in my vehicle.’
‘Okay. the nearest town is 5 miles away. There is a wonderful restaurant. I think Murti is sleeping. Let's not disturb him. We will get something for him.’
‘Ok.’
They both got into the young man’s car. The old man likes to ride in the back seat.
‘I used to own this exact model when I was young. And you know what, that was my first car. It was my lucky charm. It's hard to see this one on the roads nowadays.’
‘This car is lucky for me, too.’ The young man noticed that the old did not wear one of his gloves. ‘You forgot to wear your left glove. Should we go back?’
‘No no. It is fine. I can keep my left hand under my coat. It's cozy this way.’ The old man smiled confidently. ‘I’m worried about my place being messy when you showed up. I will tell Murty. People won’t come back if you keep your place dirty.’
‘Murty is not with you anymore. He joined my company a year before.’
‘I know. I know where Murty is. You don't have to repeat yourself. ’
‘Where is Murty?’
‘He went on a vacation with his family. He will be back this Sunday.’
They both entered a small restaurant. The old man kept his left hand under his coat. He took a place near the fire and made himself comfortable.
‘Light food, please. You said it is for a quick snack.’ The old man reminded the young, laughing.
The young ordered more than sufficient and the old ate more than he can. ‘Should we order something for Murty?’ The young man asked.
‘Yes. We should.’ the old man said, emptying the plate clean.
The two went to pay the bill. The young took the bill and reached for his wallet in his coat. But the old insisted that he will pay. He reached into his coat and looked for money. The young waited. The old had nothing in his pocket.
‘I think I forgot to bring money.’
‘Fine.’ The young paid the bill.
Both were on their way home. The 70s style vehicle was calmly moving on the lonely road between tall trees.
‘You are me.’ The young said.
‘…’ The old kept silent.
‘I noticed your gloves. That was her first gift. You reflect my future.’ The young said. The old sat in the back seat silently looking outside, having his left hand inside his coat. ‘So, this is what I end up as for being egoistic and absolutely self-centered. Living a pathetic life alone, probably in the charity of others.’
‘I’m not in anyone’s charity here.’ The old man said firmly.
‘Whatever. What happened to Leila? Where are the children? Why are you alone? Where is everybody?’ The young man’s eyes blurred with tears.
‘I lost them.’
‘How? Did she leave you?’
‘You don’t have to know.’
‘I do have to know this. Tell me what happened?’ The young yelled.
‘All you have to know is, even though she is arrogant, selfish, and outright unfair, you need her every day.’
The young man stopped the car in the middle of nowhere. His eyes blurred with tears collected. He looked at his face in the rearview mirror. He was having a few wrinkles and a few gray hairs. His eyes looked infested with ego.
He turned back. The old man was not there.
He took his cellular phone out of his coat. He dialed the numbers.
‘Hello.’ She said. That voice! It sounded different. At least this time.
‘Hey. It’s me.’ He said, clearing his throat.
‘I can see that.’
‘Yea. What are you doing?’
‘Me? Nothing. Where are you? Aren’t you busy or something?’ She asked.
‘I... No. Not busy. Just wanted to talk to you.’
‘About?’
‘I just missed you. Okay?’ He said after a breath.
‘What are you gonna do about it?’
‘Anything. Where are the kids?’
‘I’m waiting for their school bus.’ She said.
The thought of the school bus made him smile. Waiting for the kids is wonderful. A bus filled with noisy and wonderful little people. He didn’t do that much often. ‘I'm on my way.’ he said.
‘Really? What will your office people think if you leave early?’ She asked.
‘Look. I’m sorry about everything. Maybe I was blind. You, too, have your fair share of things to apologize for. But I know you won’t. And I’m completely okay with that.’
He assumed she smiled. Can’t say for sure. She won’t sometimes even for necessary things. But she looks amazing to him when she does.
‘I’m wearing the gloves you gifted me.’
‘Those maroon ones! Really? I remember you throwing them out of the car’s window!’
‘I came back and picked them up.’
‘Wow. That’s something wonderful. What happened to you?’ She smiled this time.
‘I don’t know. But it is not too late, right?’ He asked.
She did not reply. He heard her breath. He felt warm being with her over the phone.
‘Has the school bus arrived? — I feel bad that I am not there. — But I will be there every day from tomorrow to collect them. — I will wave goodbye too to their little friends.’
There was no reply from the other end.
‘You there?’
She was not there.
‘Don't keep looking at them, sir. Just pick anything.’
The old man stood there, lost in his thoughts.
‘Everything is more or less the same.’ a pretty lady in the small shop said.
‘Sir.’ the lady called again.
He collected himself. ‘I need a glove for my left hand that matches this one.’ He showed his right hand, wearing the gloves.
‘Of course you do. And you have all the pairs of gloves I have in my shop right in front of you!’ She showed the gloves again with both of her hands.
‘These don’t match my right glove.’ the old man showed his right hand.
‘Gloves come with a pair, sir.’
‘Oh yes, of course. So, my right glove is useless now, I guess?’
The pretty shopkeeper had nothing to say.
‘I don't want a new pair.’ — ‘I think I need to search in my house once again.’ — ‘Have been searching for 16 years now. Must have kept it in the wardrobe or something.’ — ‘It must be in the wardrobe.’
The old man smiled at the shopkeeper and walked out.
‘You sure you don’t have the exact match?’ He showed his right hand.
She shook her head.
He walked back to his messy and lonely house in the cold. He heard that oozy sound as he opened the door. Two of the seven light bulbs in the cabin were in working condition. He had to walk in the dark to the bedroom to turn one on. The wall clock was not running. He looked for his watch but could not find it.
It was so dark. He didn’t want to sleep. He couldn’t most days. Even if he gets some sleep, his dreams would come to torment him. He climbed into his bed and stayed there for a while. “A while” was becoming non-quantifiable. Some days the nights come as soon as he wakes up. He turned off the light.
He was in a college inauguration. She was sitting in the row before him. He tapped her head. She turned back.
‘Hey. What are you doing here?’ She said with her eyes wide open in surprise.
‘Same department.’ He showed his ID card, smiling.
‘Wha?’ She briefly stood up, looking for free seats in the back row. ‘Let’s go back.’
These dreams necessarily did not happen in his life. He never met her before their marriage, by the way.
‘We must belong in the same class, I guess.’ She said, looking at both their ID cards in her hands. Her hands looked wonderful to him.
He sat there happily, observing her. Everything about her was beautiful. Not every man would agree with him on that. But who cares?
‘I feel hungry. I didn’t have breakfast.’ She said.
He woke up feeling hungry in the dark. He climbed out of the messy bed. The dreams were becoming very regular. They don’t disappoint him anymore.
He looked out of his window. It looked like early morning. They should have opened the shops. He thought of having some tea and cookies. They will be amazing for the cold. He washed the flask to get some more for the afternoon. He dressed up and took some change.
He had to walk ten minutes from his cabin. The town was still sleeping. He sat on a stone in front of the tea shop, adjusting his coat and headwear, keeping the flask in between his legs.
He looked at the sky behind the mountains. It seemed like early morning, but it stayed the same way for way too long to be true.
He waited.
The time was ten past twelve.
