“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like.”
― Lemony Snicket
It was during the summer after my post-graduation from Saint Stephen College Delhi when my fate was locked with a men whom I had never met. My father told me he was a nice guy, relatives congratulated me getting a well settled groom but no one asked what I was looking for. Just with a single glance to his picture for a while and I nodded my head like any good daughter would have done. But for keeping other happy I didn’t realised that I was going to strangle my dreams with own hands.
He was 10 years older to me a sub inspector in state police services which he got after giving entrance for 6 times and a hefty amount of bribe. I saw him on our engagement day for the first time and with his behaviour I took him as gentleman and tried to create love for him inside my heart.
After the engagement we started talking over phone for hours like a couple in their first love. His humours talk and romantic lines were making me feel special. We met few times in a café or restaurant for dates. His behaviour was like every woman would desire for a husband like him. I was thanking my parents for searching such a wonderful person for me. He was my Mr. Perfect I was thinking that I could not even found someone nearly equal to him if I had searched on my own.
And one evening he called me asking to meet him urgently. Hearing the seriousness of his voice I started my scooter and rushed to his place. The darkness was about to engulf the horizon when I knocked his door. He opened the door wearing his uniform and welcomed me inside. He was staying alone far from his family in the government quarter. The room was not big but enough for a family of two to stay.
I asked,” why you called me now?”
He said,” It’s my birthday so I wanted to celebrate it with you.” pointing towards the cake decorated over the table in the middle of the room.
With a smile I wished him. Than he brought me closer to the cake and cut that holding the knife in my hand. Putting the first slice in my mouth he took the rest. I wished him again and apologized for not bringing any gift for him.
He said,” You are my gift. What more I should wish for?”
Without understanding the true meaning of his words I replied,” Tell me what you want? I promise I will definitely give it to you.”
A with a strange smile on his lips putting his hand over my shoulder he said,” I want you to be mine today.” And moved closer to me.
For a moment fear ran through my spine. I was not understanding why he asked such a thing knowing that we were going to marry after two months. I tried to convince him that what he was saying was not acceptable by her before marriage. But he didn’t listen to me and sat silently without looking to my face. I didn’t wanted to ruin our relationship before it started so his obstinacy own over my feelings. I agreed to sleep with him thinking anyhow I would be doing that with my husband what matters if it happened before or after taking rounds around the pious fire.
Tear came out from my closed eyes when his lips touched mine. For the first time my skin was getting the touch of a man. The feeling of getting desired by the person was amazing but it came with a price. A pain that was far worse than slitting the wrist or getting a tight slap like your bone was being crushed under an iron roller.
Licking my neck he moved down removing the clothes which were coming between his lips and my skin. My heart started beating faster when he reached my naval and I closed my eyes in shyness. The next thing I felt was him removing my pants and undergarments. Spreading my legs he stated throwing her cloth on the ground. I was not in a condition to open my eye and see what was going to happen. I felt like someone inserted a hot iron rod inside my body tearing apart the skin and then the pain started spreading around my body from my lower belly. I started yearning over the bed like a fish without water but my heart broken cry had no effect on his ears. He kept bumping his body on me till I felt some hot liquid getting inside me.
Laying by my side he said,” Don’t cry nothing will happen. It occurs first time with everyone. By the way I am glad you were a virgin and gave me the chance to take it.”
The burring inside my body was not allowing me to understand a single word of his. After spending an hour on the bed wetting my face with my own tear I got up from the bed and tried to stand but my legs were shaking so hard they I fall on the ground. But he didn’t even opened his eye to see what happened. When I looked to the bedsheet and area between my legs were looking red with my blood. For a moment I thought what I had done than made myself normal and clean my body with a towel. Wearing my dress I asked for leave and walked out of the house. He didn’t felt like dropping me till the gate.
With the pain somehow I managed to drive back home and sat under the hot shower. I was feeling guilty of doing all that before but the other part of me was trying to convince me. For next two days I didn’t put my leg outside my room so no one could know what I had done. But the chapter didn’t ended their and he continued to call me to different places at different times to stifle the fire of his body. Going to a hotel room with him and the look the receptionist gave me made me feel like a call girl a whore who sells her body in exchange of money. So one day I decided to end that and for the first time I say no to him just to get a tight slap and to be forcefully raped inside his car.
That day for the first time I felt like taking a wrong decision. As our marriage day got closer he became the gentlemen I loved in the first look making me feel like he had changed but that was one more trick of his to take hold of the chain of my life.
My parents gave him a lot of gifts and cash as dowry as promised and even funded the tickets for our honeymoon in Switzerland which name he was not able to pronounce correctly. For next two three moths life went with romance and pleasure life the silence before a tsunami. His family started forcing me to ask my parents for more dowry for my expenses in their house. For first two three times my father gave what he could arranged but at last he had nothing left. Thee torture was getting worse day by day. My husband stated beating me on small issue. His demand on bed with animalistic behaviour was becoming hard for me to bear. Every night I was getting rapped on my own house own bed by my one husband but I had to share my pain.
Whenever his senior came to our place he used me as a slave. Asking me to prepare drink for them and even sometime under the influence of alcohol he pulled my sari in front of them and touching my body making me feel like a striper. Inside the close door I cried everytime when his friends knocked the door like they were going to rape me. I had started hating my life thinking of committing suicide but my parents face stopped me. I thought of taking the help of law but putting my own family on the court pulled my step back. I was waiting for someone who could hold my hand pulling me out of the muddy life.
One day gathering courage I asked my husband,” Can I work outside to earn some money?”
With a laugh he said,” Dhanda karna chahati ho (you want to be a prostitute)?”
I said in a trembling voice,” No, I am thinking of teaching in a school or college.”
Nodding his head he said,” Ok, let me talk to someone for you. But I warn you if you started playing with me I will tear out your skin.”
In next seven days I got a job in a college in a nearby city as an English lecturer. Initially I thought he would drop me to my collage but he was not bothered about that. After making breakfast for him put some juice in my empty stomach and ran to the bus stand. The bus was so crowded that keeping a step inside was difficult. But still I went inside thinking of not reaching late on my first day. Standing between men in the tight bus I was feeling uncomfortable every time the driver pulled the break. Knowingly the guy fall over my back touching his part on my back. I was about to scream in tears when a boy in his early twenty sitting on the seat near me got uo and said,” Ma’am if you don’t mind you can sit hear.” Giving a sarcastic look to the guy standing behind me. I took his seat giving him a smile.
After two stoppage when the bus took a heavy break the guy touching me scream loudly in pain. Everyone asked him what happened but he didn’t spoke a line.no one knew what happened to him except me and the boy. I saw the boy crunching his ball with his hand and when he saw me looking at him he left him with a smile in his face. I smiled back thanking him. When I reached the spot I looked for him to thank in words but he was gone like a smoke in the air.
Reaching collage I met the principal and taking the time chart I went for my class. I was about to teach final year students of engineering. When I put my foot inside the whole cheered like a celebrity entered to the red carpet. Making them silent I started to discuss about the topic they had already completed to easy my load.
I was writing the name of the chapter I was going to teach them the next day when a guy entered inside and went to his seat like I was not even present in the class. When I asked who came late he stood of when our eyes met we both had no words to say. He was the same guy from the bus who saved me from that pervert. Asking him to meet outside I left the class and he followed me.
Outside I asked him,” you came with me in the same bus right but why you are late for the class.”
Scratching his head he said,” Ma’am! First sorry for my behaviour there. And about being late I was stuck somewhere.”
I laughed at his attitude and said,” I don’t want you to come late from next day. And cut your hairs you are looking like a girl from back.”
He smiled and left.
The next day when I reached for the bus crowd was same as before but the boy again gave his seat to me. We talked all the way till the bus reached. And it started happening every day. From his talk I notice what he pretend to be from outside was not same from his heart. He attended every class of mine looking at my face without diverting his eyes from mine even making me feel awkward some time when our eyes met.
With passage of time we were getting closer and one day I saw him waiting on a bike. When I asked whom he was waiting he blushed and ask me to seat. From that day he picked and dropped me every day like a friend. The little age gape was making us feel equal and we were sharing every ting with each other.
One day while coming back I felt like vomiting and asked him to stop the bike. He thought I had food poisoning but I knew I was pregnant but I didn’t told him. He dropped me till my house that day and left.
Thinking everything would become wright after our first baby I told my husband that I was pregnant. But his reaction shocked me. He was not happy but became red in anger and slapped me holding my hair. When I asked him why he was doing all that.
He said,” Whose sin you are carrying inside. I know it’s not mine and even know whom it belongs. It is of the boy with whom you goes to collage right. After marriage you were not able to meet so you fooled me of working out side.”
He continued,” Tell me for how long you are sleeping with him or I will kill you.”
In a sobbing I voice I tried to explain that he was the person who took my virginity before marriage and now accusing me of betrayal. How much I cry before him saying I never even imagined of any other men except him he didn’t listen.
The next day he took me to the hospital and aborted the child even after my resistance. For next 7 days I slept on the bed crying my heart out thinking about the little life I was about to brought to this world.
One day when my husband was not at home my phone rang flashing an unknown number. When I picked a voice of a guy came from that side. Telling my name he asked if I was she and when I nodded he said,” what happened to you? Why are you not coming to college? Did you health still not ok? Should I come to meet you?”
From the voice I realised I was him the guy from my collage I wanted to meet him and tell him everything but I didn’t wanted to put him in trouble. So I cut the call and he also dint tried to call back again. This time when I returned to collage my husband came to drop me.
At college I tried to ignore him. Intestinally not looking at him in class, leaving directly to faculty chamber, hiding eye contact. It went for 3 days like god had planned to bring the angel in my life to save me from all the misery the whole class had bunked. When I entered to the class no one was there except him. He was seating on the corner and closed the door. I was afraid of what he was going to do but what he did my heart had never expected. Holding my hands he sat me on the bench and asked why I was ignoring him.
His emotional voice melted my heart. I hugged him and cried like a baby. Unable to understand the situation he kept asking me to calm down but when I didn’t stopped he kissed on my lips making my sobbing stopped. His touch felt like ice over my burring heart. When I tear stopped he removed his lips from mine and repeat his question.
This time I described everything that was happing with me from the day I met him. The rapes, the torture, and the abortion everything word by word I narrated him. Anger came out from his eyes as tears.
Holding my hands he said,” You may thing I am trying to take advantage of you knowing your situation but from the first day when I saw you in the bus I fell in your love. Every beat of my heart speaking only your name. I Love you just say these three words once and I will fight with the world to bring out of from the pit and give you all the happiness you deserve making you mine.”
I said,” I too like you but we can’t became one. My husband is a very bad man he will put you in lots of trouble. So you have to forget me. In next few days I am going to quit the collage too.” And left the room crying.
From that day our friendship took a different mood I was not able to resist to talk to him when my husband was outside. After quitting the collage I started spend whole day with him over phone. The cloud of sadness were vanishing from my head and I was spending more time smiling. With my changed behaviour my husband started doubting me. He put his constable behind me to see where I was going.
One such day when I went to a park to meet my love his informers called him. We were sitting on a bench eating ice cream when a few police man pulled his collar from the back and started slapping him. They put him in the van and took to the station before my husband. When I reached there by auto he was inside the lockup getting beaten by my husband’s belt. But not a single drop of regrets or fear was in eye. Seeing me there his anger touched the sky and he left him and came outside. He put a tight slap on my cheek making me fall on the ground.
He was still silent not a single word coming from his mouth. Like he was waiting for something. And after few minutes my husband’s phone rang bringing nervousness on his face. His words were shaking when he was talking and continuously looking towards the lockup. When the call ended he was wet in sweat and opened the door of the lock of asking for excuse from the boy.
At the mean time an advocate came with a file and asked my husband to sign and without reading with his trembling hand he signed. Coming out of the lockup the boy took the file from his hand and sat near me and asked me to sign. I followed his words without thinking. After that he asked the advocate,” Submit it in the court and apply for her divorce.”
I was confused looking at his face while he hold my hand and brought out of the police station. He whispered in my ear,” You are free now. He will never dare to look at you.”
Out of curiosity I asked him,” Who are you.”
With a smile he said,” you will know in a week.”
I directly went back to my father’s house and told them everything. They were shocked but happy that I was saved from that devil. After five days when my divorce was approved two cars stopped before our house. That was he with his father the union minister of our state. My eyes remained open that he never made me feel that his father was a big man. Respect for him increased inside my heart.
His parents talked to mine asking my hand for their son. But when they turned to me I nodded my head saying yes. Within one month we get married and went for our honeymoon. While reading the newspaper I saw a news about my ex-husband getting killed by Maoist and showed him. He smiled and kissed on my forehead and I smiled back.
Monday, 4 September 2017
In The Wolf's Cage: Finding Love In Second Chance
Friday, 11 August 2017
Seven Days Of Valentine
After two of my books found their place in the list of bestsellers of the decade crossing number of great writers from whom once I had took my inspiration, my feet was not touching the ground. Life had changed for me, I was shining like the moon in the crowd of stars. My self-esteem had turned into ego and even and my job confining myself inside my apartment and started writing my next novel. But after completing half of it I went clue less, not a single line I was able to think and just kept tearing out pages from the notebook and threw into the trace bin.
More than 2 years passed since I had written a sentence, not even talked to anyone. The cheer of my name was vanishing from the media like I had become history. New names were taking over my place with their new stories.
Finally I decided to come out my dungeon and take some free air so I called a travel agency and booked a ticket for Shimla. The bus was taking turns while climbing up to the queen of hills through the beautiful landscape. Once I reached there the travel agent took me to the hotel and informed me about the detail tour plan. Thanking him I rested on the bed waiting for the next morning to come.
My sleep broke in the mid-night by few Facebook messages from my fans wishing me the first day of valentine week. It was not a surprise to forgetting valentine after 9 months of my breakup with my girlfriend just because I was not giving her time and unable to cope with her expenses. For her I had nothing left, my pen didn’t had the craziness about writing and I was a forgotten celebrity.
Opening Instagram I checked her pictures and a drop of tear ran down from my eye while lips curved with smile. I was still not accepting that I threw her out of my life calling her an attention seeking bitch, for me she left my hand when I needed her most. And lost in thought, didn’t realised when opening the door of dreams I entered inside.
7th February
The morning alarm brought me back to reality and opening the window let the fresh air of the hills fill my lungs. After taking a shower I went out of the hotel and walked to a café in the near distance. The café was embellish with flower and balloons to attract its customers. Getting in I looked for a vacant seat and sat there looking at the light snowfall through the glass window. The slow music and the room heater gave my body some relief and I waited for my coffee to reach the table.
I was enjoying warping my hand around the hot coffee when she put her step inside. A lady in her early thirties, curly long hair falling till her waist and with a face like a heavenly angel. Putting her big jacket on the hanger near the door she moved her eyes around the room and stopped at me. With her long legs she walked towards me and asked,” if you don’t mind can I sit here?”
I nodded saying yes to her and again got busy looking at the streets. For few minutes she kept staring at me and pulled out a book from his bag and looked at the back side of the cover page. And in an exciting voice showing me the book she asked,” Aren’t you the writer of this book, the best seller?”
With a smile I looked at her face and said,” Yup, I was the writer. I have not written anything since my second book.”
” I am such a big fan of yours, I had read it four times still feeling like repeat it again” she prompted in a exciting voice
I thanked her as she gave her book for a signature.
While I was signing she asked,” By the way can I ask you why you are in Shimla.”
I said,” Just to get some peace in the hills. By the way everyone comes here for enjoyment.”
She said in a dull voice,” Not everyone, sometimes people come here to search something. A missing link of their life. And being a writer you must have something in your mind.”
With a long breath and few seconds of silence I sighed,” Yes! I am searching something, a story which I would give shape on the paper. A story that no one had ever heard up, something new.”
Her eyes looked glowing and she replied,” if it’s ok with you I will share my story, my journey to Shimla. Story of my never ending search. But you have to promise me that you will publish it.”
Her words had the pain that I was able to feel beneath the smiling face. She had a story which she wanted to share with me and why shouldn’t I listen to her, I had no other work for next few days, it’s better to spend time with her than sleeping alone in the room. So I agreed with her condition.
After talking for few minutes she asked for leave and went out of the café to disappear in the crowded snow filled street.
8th February
When I reached the café the girl was already there waiting for me. Waving me hand she ordered a coffee for me and sit silently. When I took the first sip of the hot coffee she began
It was the same day just before 9 years when I was in my final year of college and came here for the first time with friends. With the dawn of the day our bus stopped with a jerk breaking my sleep. The cold breeze of the valley whispered song of Valentine in my ear. When I remover my long falling hair from face feeling the soft touch of morning rays of sun, a face came to sight. A handsome charming men in his late 20s standing near a bike looking at our bus. He was dressed in leather jacket with knee and elbow protectors like the speed bikers do.
When our eyes met I felt like he was looking at me and my lips returned his smile. When I realized what I did I closed the window and laughed at my foolishness. One by one all my friend came out of the bus and so was I, standing near the door my eyes searched for him but he was gone. Like I knew him from years I looked around to get a glance of his leather jacket until my friends pushed me towards the resort.
Getting fresh we went for the tour around the city exploring the beauty of nature until the sun hide in the horizon. In the evening we were sitting in the lawn surrounding the camp fire singing songs and telling stories when few bikes stopped near the gate and the riders came inside making noise. When they saw us looking at them they shut their mouths and sat silently on a bench near us. For a moment the silent in the air made the situation uncomfortable but in a few minutes everyone started enjoying.
I heard a boy taking to someone over phone and from his conversation I noticed that one of their group member is still not returned. He was looking tense but the guy from the other side told him not to worry as he would be back soon.
After few long minutes a tall figure came towards us, his face was covered by helmet making him look like a serial killer of 90s. He sat with the guys and removed his gloves and jacket when someone knocked on his helmet asking him to remove that cover. And when he pulled that out I knew the face, he was the guy from the morning. There was an inevitable charm in his face making me bound in his looks. His black eyes were holding mine. His constant staring made me uncomfortable and with a blush I looked in a different direction but from the corner of my eye I was trying to see was he still looking at me.”
9th February
On the propose day the street were filled with couples walking hand in hand creating a scene of Venice in Shimla. Crossing them I reached the bedeck café to listen her story. Welcoming with a warm smile she started narrating.
Next morning somehow I pulled my dozy body out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. Washing my face ordered a coffee and sat in the balcony looking at the rising sun from behind the hills. Lost in thoughts watching the couples walking around the streets I was imaging my life with a guy who could fill the emptiness of my heart.
And suddenly the noise of the doorbell lugged me back. Opening the door I saw the waiter standing with my coffee sticking a smile on his lips. Taking the cup from his hand I went back to my chair and took the sip of hot cappuccino. A spark of freshness rushed to my brain through my lips.
I was enjoying the coffee when the same guy came to the balcony stretching his hands. He blushed seeing me there making me laughed.
We exchange good morning and talked for few minutes. He told me they were going on a for a road trip around Shimla so if we wished we could join them. Saying I would talk to my friends I left the balcony. After my friends woke up I insisted them for the trip not because I wanted to travel but there was a spell of magic luring me towards him. After few discussion finally we got ready to go with them.
Finishing breakfast everyone gathered near the parking area to start the journey. We sat behind the boys and the trip started. Taking turns through the mountain road the bikes were moving forward with speed, we were felling the cold air on our skin. Removing the helmet I let my hair open making them wave free in the air. Spreading my hands I was feeling like a bird flying free in the sky.
After few hours of drive we stop near a tea shop to give the engines a rest. Holding the cup in hand I walked with him few steps to let my leg some relax. He was an amazing guy with humours talk and a charming smile. Every time he smiled my heart slipped from its place.
Resuming our journey we reached near a waterfall in the evening and lost in the view. Sitting for hours, taking pictures I thought of spending my entire life there.
We reached back to our hotel till night and having our dinner threw our bodies on the bed.
10th February
My steps were moving faster as I was late for the café. Her story was making me curious with every passing day. But today she was sitting silently, her charming face was little down. She didn’t greeted with her smiling voice. Signalling the waiter for two coffee I asked her to resume.
From the night clouds started bursting over the city making it impossible to put a leg outside. I was getting bored looking outside throw the glass window all the morning so putting the over coat I walked down to the cafe inside the resort. In the empty café I saw him sitting alone in a corner. He waved his hand when saw me walk towards him. Ordering a coffee for me we sat silently. I was not going to start the conversation, I wanted him to speak first. Counting every breath I was scratching my fingers.
Finally he broke the silence,” Did you enjoyed yesterday?”
I nodded while the waiter brought my coffee. Taking a sip I asked,” Do you come here every year?”
“Yes, from last five years” he answered.
Suddenly a question came out of my mouth” Why” making me feel awkward.
But he gently replied,” in search of something, better to say someone. After finding whom the emptiness of my life will be fulfilled.” With a deep breath.
“Did you found her” I was not going to give up before bringing the truth out of him.
“No, still not found but I think this time my search is going to end” gazing in to my eyes. He made me feel like forgetting myself in his eyes.
My cheeks blushed and a smile raised in the corner of my lips” I wish your words become true”.
Our conversation continued and we lost the count of time, when we realised he sun had already crossed over our head but the rain was not showing any shine of stopping.
Ordering our lunch we ate silently and sat outside under a shade felling the cool air on our bodies.
11th February
My body was feeling little drowsy due to the weather. The bed was calling me to hug her but I tried my best to get over her spell and took a hot shower. Walking to the café I thought of taking something for her. But in the early morning I didn’t found anything except a vendor selling apples. Holding a decorated basket of fruits I reached to her. Tanking me for the gift she gave a little hug and started from where we left on the previous day.
Every moment I was spending with him my heart was drawing closer to him, he was becoming an addiction and a habit I didn’t wanted to change. The way he carried himself, his way of talking and his dimpled chicks were sweeping me out of my feet. I wanted to fall just to be hold by his arms and to look into his eyes.
Sitting on his bike we were traveling around the city. In just few days we became so close that I felt like most secure with him. My friends were surprised seeing me with him, because after breaking so many hart finally I found a place to rest.
In the night when we returned holding my hand he said,” I promise you I will make you remember this valentine for the rest of your life.” And left smiling at me. I was blushed kept looking him till he vanished from my view.
12th February
With every chapter of her story turning pages it was getting more interesting. Her tale was like a chocolate cake, the more inside you go the more testy it would become. Waking up several times in the night I looked at clock to check morning had come or not. And finally not able to sleep thinking what will happen in her story on the next day I sat on my bed waiting for the sun to rise.
When I reached the café two beautiful cups of coffee were arranged on the table we sat everyday. When I took slide onto the chair a waitress came and greeted me ‘Sir, will you like to order something special for your girlfriend?’
‘What, She is not my girlfriend but still I would like order few cookies for her.” I prompted and waited for her.
She smiled seeing the arrangement and throwing her arms around gave me a warm hug. Testing the flavours of hand made cookies she began her story.
Only two days left for Valentine’s day to come and I was already in love. But my heart was hesitating to accept, mountains of questions building inside me. What if he didn’t feel same like I do, if he only think me as a friend, what if he reject my proposal, if he had someone already in his life. I started having headache with all those thoughts rolling in my head.
But I decided to express my feelings to him and with the clock tickle passed midnight I dialled his number. After few rings his dozy voice came from the receiver. In excitement I wished him hug day and cut the before he could be able to react. Giggling with my blushed cheeks I was jumping on the bed proud of my achievement.
In the morning I was not able to look into his eyes and stood with my eyes down. He gently walked near me and took me into his arm and whispered in my ear ‘I think you called me instead of calling someone special’. I understood he was teasing me and pushed him back.
I wanted to know more about him, to read every line his book. Walking around the city we talked about our life and desires, share all the happy and sad moments of past.
Till the sun went to the lap of his mother I was sure he had some feelings for me. But he was afraid to express.
13th February
Her story was going to end but I had no clue in what direction it was moving. I was listening again her voice recorded in my phone and trying to give it a shape of novel but with out knowing the conclusion I was not in a state to ink her words onto paper.
Meeting her at the café had become a routine for me. Walking down the street when I reached near the entrance she called my name from a distance. I waited her to reach me and shaking hands we get inside.
That day she was looking excited, in a happy mood and told me that she would finish her story that day. My eyes glowed to test he ending. Till that time I had drafted the ending with own words in my brain. But what she was going say would slip the ground below my feet.
In the morning I search for him around the resort but he was not there, all my calls went blank his friends had no idea of his whereabouts. My heart was beating faster with a strange thought.
Sitting on the balcony I kept looking at the street thinking he will wave at me in the next minute but minutes slipped in to hours but my eyes didn’t get a glance of him. I thought ‘Did he left to avoid me for my awkward behaviour with him.’ I had lost all the hope of seeing him again, my heart was feeling broken into pieces. He never said he loves me but for me he had become my life. Like a relationship of centuries ended I was feeling, not in a state to realize what’s happening near me. My brain was stuck with his thoughts.
When the sun went down my friends pulled me with them to the lawn and sat near the fire. The cold and the warmth had no effect on my skin like I had lost the sense of touch. I was sitting like a stone statue looking at the direction of gate praying to send him back to me.
With the night getting darker everyone went to their beds. But I didn’t moved a single inch from my place. Decided to wait for him I kept staring at the door without a single blink in my eyes. And as god listen to my prayer he walked through the gate holding a big gift box in his hand. His face was not visible in the darkness but my heart was seeing him clearly.
I ran towards him and impulsively gave a tight hug to him. Putting his around me he hold me tightly. After few minutes of silence when my heart finally got peace I pushed him and started hammering his chest with my hands seeking the explanation of his disappearance.
Holding by my arm he sat me on the sofa and hand me over the box asking me to open. When the cover removed a beautiful teddy bear with lots of chocolates were inside. When I was looking into the box he get down on his knees and pulled a rose from his pocket ‘After meeting you my search finally ended, for the first time someone entered so deep into my heart. Every moment I am spending with you are the best memory of my life. Will you be my Valentine for the rest of my life’.
A tear dropped from my eyes and I slipped my body to the ground. We were looking into each other’s eyes lost in the eternal feeling of love. A blow of wind scattered my hair on my face. Slowly he removed the hair from my face and moved his fingers on my cheeks. His touch was like a electric pulse running inside my body. Automatically my lips moved close to his and eyes got close. His warm lips touched my and we let ourselves float with the flow.
Separating our bodies we talked for few minutes when I told him I had to leave on the next day. We were upset for the separation But the happiness of finding love was overcoming that.
Promising to meet once we get back to our cities we went to our rooms.
Next morning he was waiting for me near our bus. Giving him a good bye hug I entered into our bus with teary eyes and kept looking outside the window till he vanished in the horizon.
Reaching back home I waited for his call. Days passed but he didn’t replied a single message of mine , when I dialled his number ‘The number you have dialled is not reachable, Please try again later’ a automatic reply came. I was getting disturbed, did he dumped me a thought ran inside me but convincing myself I tried to reach his friends. After few weeks of search somehow I managed to get one of friends number and when dialled my soul torn apart.
‘When we were returning back on a sharp turn suddenly a truck came before us and he with two of our friends lose their balance and fall into the valley. The emergency helicopter took them to hospital but they didn’t able to survive fall. He had multiple bone fractures and his head was smashed inside the helmet’ He said but not able to listen I cut the call. And cried for day on my bed till my tear buds ran empty. For months I had become a living zombie.
I was going to college, eating talking with friends but a part of me was dead . I was not able to smile, sitting silently always lost in his thoughts. How can he did that to me, why he embraced dead after promising me to spend the entire life together.
But for me his promise was like a threat of love which I couldn’t cross. Taking the auth to not love anyone ever in this life I decided to come to Shimla every year during Valentine to rewind his memory. These seven days I smiles all the day walking around the places which kept his touch but every night I cried with the little thoughts that I have of him unable to accept the truth even after 9 years.
Burning his face in his hands he started crying. The more I tried to calm her down the more she cried but suddenly stopped and holding my hands she asked me to promise that I would write her story and let the world know about her love. When I nodded she got up from her seat and swiping her tears walked out of the café.
The heart broken story brought water in my eyes but I didn’t allowed them to fall. Returning to my hotel I decided to write the story but thought of taking to her one last time before binging.
14th February
I was waiting curiously for the her inside the café but she didn’t came. Hour passed, I consumed a few cups of coffee but still didn’t got a sign of her. Asking the waitress I got nothing about her. With the sun climbing to my head I walked back thinking the last day as my last meet.
In the night after having lunch I was just changing channels when I stuck on a news. A girl committed suicide by jumping into the valley, struck me like a thunderbolt. When they saw the body I knew the dress, that was she in the dress of last night.
I didn’t understood why she choose the path of death after so many years, did she waiting for someone to share her pain or did god had kept her alive for me to listen her story. She left the world but her story will keep them both in millions heart.