After Her: A Short Story
Kaps had thought his life was sorted after meeting her, until she cheated on him with someone whom he never considered even distant competition.
Kaps was sad. He didn’t know how to react to this betrayal. He sat alone with a drooping face in the college canteen, full of first-years, staring at this peculiar man who wore the brightest red shirt with green trousers and looked very similar to a human rose.
Kaps was not a teacher but still worked at the university. People often find it difficult to understand that there are clerical posts as well that need to be filled by people like Kaps, who knew how to do their job diligently.
Kaps was management’s favourite. He never took a single day off, barring once when his neighbour’s cat was sick, and she asked for his help. Kaps never said ‘No’ to anyone. Maybe that was the reason he was tormented by everybody in his department. Maybe that’s why he liked her because she never laughed at him with others for his strange dressing style.
Amidst all this, Kaps was least bothered. He was confident, self-assured and very secure in everything he has achieved. He was very boastful about his schedules, his lifestyle and everything he did.
Kaps wasn’t a narcissist. He was just unique in his ways. Born to a very difficult family, Kaps moved out when he was just 16. Since then, he has managed to finish his education, got a decent job, saved up for a modest house, and is now ready to settle down, for almost ten years.
His life hasn’t changed much in the last few years. He is a person who loves his schedule. Maybe that was the reason he was so hurt that even after taking her out on 25 dates, she betrayed him with someone else.
He read somewhere that you should meet at least thrice before asking for her digits. Go on a date at least five times before taking a step further. And, wait till the 26th date to propose to her. His maths was accurate until that morning.
It was the first time that Kaps was really happy and secure in a relationship.
In his previous relationship, his girlfriend had cheated on him with her best friend.
Another time, it was a colleague and before that, it was a neighbour.
So, when Kaps met the latest love of his life, he made sure to ask if there were any male friends, neighbours or any person of the opposite gender who could be a threat.
But, this one was different. She had just girls.
It was only yesterday he was planning to propose to her. Today, she broke up with him. He didn’t see this coming. He also didn’t see her as a lesbian who would leave him for another ‘girl’.
Yes, Kaps was betrayed by a girl for a girl.
She had told him everything truthfully that morning. She said she never expected it to happen that way but that implied she didn’t expect it to happen with ‘her’ that too so soon.
Kaps didn’t know how to take this heartbreak. Everybody made fun of him. He became the hot topic of his department for making people switch their ‘likeness’.
He stopped stepping out during lunch hours.
His schedule now includes just walking to the office and then walking back home.
His ex had taken a new job in the neighbouring town, which was some relief for him. At least, he didn’t have to see her and her sorry face now.
The vacancy was filled by another beautiful lady. She heard what happened with Kaps and was full of sympathy. She held a friendly hand towards Kaps, but now Kaps knew better when he heard the new ‘her’ lived in a girls’ hostel.
