10:10

By Kanishk Raj Bhalki

It was the fall of 2010 and the leaves of the trees had started turning a bright orange and some even red! All these colours warmed the atmosphere but this warmth faded in comparison to the raging fire of passion and love that was devouring a fine young man’s heart. Marshall was walking home from the library. He worked at a small paper firm, Dunder Mifflin, and was living a quiet and peaceful life in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was a pretty casual and easy going guy who didn’t care much about the world around him, well the world except for one fine woman, the woman who lived upstairs in his building, the woman he loved! Teal.

Marshall had been in love with Teal for a long time now and he was too shy to say so. She was a waitress in the cafe, Central Perk. She was studying law and lived alone in her flat. Marshall had fallen for her silky and graceful hair which gently moved whenever a breeze dared enough to disturb them. Her plush and rosy cheeks were like small buns of bread, ready to be sliced and spread with sauce. Her soft looking lips never failed to tempt Marshall, if he ever dared to look at them that is. Marshall was very shy around Teal, even though they had been good friends for a while now, walking 14 blocks from their apartment every day. Teal loved reading books and novels and that is the only thing that Marshall had a problem with. He hated reading!

Teal and Marshall used to walk together every morning, 14 blocks from their apartment, till street 6, where Teal went left to her cafe and Marshall went right to his office building. They met at 10:10 am every morning, and talked about all sorts of stuff and it was the best part of Marshall’s morning. He had wanted to confess his feelings to her for a long time now but his own shyness came in his way. One morning, at 10:10, the duo were walking and Marshall said,” Teal I know you love reading so why don’t you check out the daily poem section starting in our paper?”

“Really Marshall? Are you of all people telling me to read something? After expressing your pure hatred towards reading? This poetry thing must mean something to you then.” said Teal

“It sure does. My friend who works at the paper company suggested this and the first day they’re taking feedback from the readers, so I want you to read and give a feedback, as my friend really needs the money.” said Marshall

“Sure I’ll check it out” said Teal

They arrived at the dreaded Y-Junction, Marshall’s worst enemy, and bid each other adieu.

The next morning the newspaper was at Teal’s door at the usual time and as she picked it up a paper slipped out and fell on the floor. She picked it up and it was the poetry section. Teal picked it up and read,

Why?

Why am I like this?

A question I ask myself every day,

But no matter how hard I try,

The question’s here to stay.

The reason I question myself all the time,

Is a girl I wanna make mine,

But I don’t how to do it,

I’ve tried almost everything, yet there’s no sign!

I try take my mind off her,

I pick up a book,

But all the words get jumbled until it’s all her name,

And whenever she walks downstairs, it’s hard not to look.

But I say to myself,” Don’t give up!”

Yet seeing her with some guy doesn’t give me hope,

I really like this girl but I don’t know what to do,

Because pushing my feelings down is getting too old.

Teal smiled and put the paper on her desk under a paper weight and picked up her toast and continued reading the paper. She met up with Marshall and they greeted each other and started walking. Marshall asked Teal about the poem and Teal said,” It was quite good, I really liked it.” said Teal and smiled. Marshall couldn’t help but blush. They kept walking and reached the Y again and parted ways. Marshall smiled and said to himself,” She liked the poem” and ran across the street to get to work.

The next morning Teal followed her usual routine and picked up the paper carefully this time so as to not drop the poetry paper inside. This time she was excited for the poem. She read,

Shackles of love

I wanna fly high, as high as the sky,

But alas, I am bound by shackles,

But these shackles I don’t mind,

For they are the shackles of love.

There’s a girl who is to be held guilty,

For she has committed theft,

But i can’t go to the cops on this one,

For the theft is of my own heart.

She’s as colourful as a flamingo,

As majestic and flamboyant as peacock,

As delicate and precious as a dove,

So it seems fitting that her name’s Teal!

Teal was impressed yet a bit shocked. Her name was written in the poem! She ate her breakfast and quickly rushed down and met up with Marshall and began their walk.

“Did you catch the poem today?” asked Teal

“Yes I did” replied Marshall

“Wasn’t it weird my name in the ending?” asked Teal

“Not really it could just be a coincidence and even if it wasn’t we have no way of getting to the bottom of this as the writer’s identity is kept anonymous for some weird reason.” said Marshall

“You’re friends with the guy who prints this right how about we ask him?” asked Teal

“Okay how about this we wait until tomorrow and see the poem tomorrow and see if there’s any mention of you in there and then take the next step” said Marshall

“Yea maybe you’re right” agreed Teal

They arrived at the Y soon after and parted ways.

The next morning, the newspaper was late and it arrived at around 9:50. Teal was ready for work but was just waiting for the paper to read that day's paper. She got the paper and as soon as she picked it up she got a knock at her door and it was Marshall. “I just got the paper and I thought I should read the poem with you,” said Marshall. Teal picked up the poem and read it out,

Love

I have a confession to make,

I am a huge coward,

As when it comes to letting my feelings out,

I hit rock bottom!

But not anymore, I am going to do it today,

The girl I love will know it today,

That She’s the one who makes my day,

That she’s the reason i believe in love.,

That she’s the reason I’m late to work,

For I wait for the clock to strike 10:10,

But I’m supposed to be at work by 9,

She’s gonna know it today,

That I love her

I love you Teal

Teal was speechless. She dropped the paper and when she was going to pick it back up she saw Marshall on one knee. “I love you Teal and I have for the past 3 years. There hasn’t been another girl I have looked at since the day we met. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life in your company, Teal will you marry me?” asked Marshall as he held up a small felt box with a golden ring with a small shiny stone commonly referred to as a diamond.

Teal was awe-struck. “Yes!” she exclaimed and hugged Marshall as he got up. They kissed and Marshall put the ring in Teal’s finger. “How did you do that?” asked Teal. “Do what?” asked Marshall. “The poems” said Teal

“Oh that, basically, I made friends with our paper boy and asked him if he would help me with this and he was very excited to help. Then I went to the library and did the one thing I hate the most, I read a bunch of books on poems and then I wrote and printed these out and everyday morning the paper boy came to my house and i slipped these into one of the papers and he would deliver that paper to you.” said Marshall.

Teal put the poem under the paper weight on her desk and held hands with Marshall as they walked out. “You don’t have to get late to work tomorrow we can meet in the evening if you want” said Teal

“That won’t be necessary, my boss and I have this deal that I reach work by 10:30 and work late till 7 in the evening. I told him all about you and he supports me, he’s the best boss ever. Michael Gary Scott. My best friend!” said Marshall. They smiled and walked out as the clock struck 10:10.

By Kanishk Raj Bhalki