Happy New Year

Fiction

My fingers mistake these days the letters on the keyboard.  I’m growing old and I’m lovin it.  I make mistakes and I forgive myself since the keyboard cannot forgive. 

“But why the hell did you kiss the girl?” The keyboard asked.

“Because she is going to suffer,” I said.  “Suffer a lot.  Too sensitive, too rebellious, too confused.”

“You kissed her in public!”

“On the forehead.”

“In public?”

“In front of a few other students.  Is that public?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Where two or three people are gathered, is it public?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Ok, for argument’s sake.  What’s your problem now?”

“Isn’t your problem mine?  Your fingers slip and Windows has to keep autocorrecting your errors.  I hate it when Windows interferes.”

I laughed.  “Why do you love me so much?” I asked.

“Because I know all your secrets.”

“Really?”

“Hmm. Your touch carries all your secrets.”

I stopped typing.  I went to the dining room and poured a whisky on rocks.  I took a sip and kept the rest near my laptop.

And put my fingers on the keyboard.

“Upset with something?” asked the keyboard.

“Shit,” I said.

“No, just the opposite.”

I took another sip.

“Celebrating New Year?” asked Keyboard.

“Yup.”

“Got a greeting?”

I gasped.  Cnt keep dstnce as lng as u leave futprnts. Wll fllw u in new yr. Happy New Year.  I recalled the message.

“Yup,” I said again.

“Another girl who will have to be kissed on the forehead?”

“I don’t want. I’m tired.”

“You are not.  The public make you feel so.”

“I can’t bear it anymore.”

“What?”

“Innocent love.”

“Suffering?”

“The year is dying. Can we take leave?”

Keyboard laughed.  Like a madman.  I emptied my whisky on rocks.

“Happy New Year,” said Keyboard.

“Cheers!” I said. 

“Hey, stop!”  Keyboard said as I was about to shut down the laptop.

“Kya?” I asked.  Hindi comes to me when I’m irritated.

“Did you notice that lovin was not autocorrected in your opening para?”

“Para? Damn it!  Happy New Year to you.”