Before it started-part 4

They were smiling and playing pranks on each other. Rose felt left out and invisible in front of them. She was about to leave when Nadia grabbed her hand and said, “I am so sorry. It is so immature of us to leave you behind. By the way, we wanted a favor from you.” “What favor do they want from me? I wish I didn’t come today.”, Rose wondered.

“Hmmm.. where do I start, Rose? Nadia and I love each other very much. We have become like one soul and two bodies. It’s just that our religion is coming in between us. Our parents wouldn’t agree on our relationship. They will try their best to separate us. So we have decided to run away and get married. However, it will be only possible if you help us.” he said. Rose was shattered. How could she help the person she loves the most do such unthinkable act?  “Don’t you have any other option? Running away would show that you are a coward. You haven’t done anything wrong. Why don’t you both discuss with your parents? They will listen to you.”, Rose said

.

 “No Rose! We have tried to tell them many times. They ignored us and now they are overreacting. They have tried many ways to stop us. They have prohibited me to go to college or anywhere outdoors. You don’t know how much trouble I had to take to come here. The only way I can be with me is through phone. Unfortunately I have to steal my sister’s phone and call him. They also tried to threaten …his life! Please (sniff) Please help us!” Nadia said and couldn’t even complete her sentence due to uncontrollable tears rolling down her cheeks. He consoled her and begged, “Please Rose. You are our only option. Please help us.”

She couldn’t see him begging her and said, “I need some time to think about this.” She left the place hurriedly.  She couldn’t sleep the whole night and the day’s events replayed again and again. She couldn’t erase the memory of him begging her. She had no idea about what she wanted to do. Her heart and mind were constantly arguing their sides. Her heart said that she should help them. Her mind said that she should go and tell their families about their plan. She had to choose right one. Thus the only way she found was reading the Bible. It had all answers for question. She felt that it would guide her to right path. 

As she flipped through the pages, she read something about god and love. God always preached love among his followers. He always said that love prevails in everything. She got her answer. Yes! She would support love. She decided to help them unite for love.

Next day she met them to tell her decision. “Thanks Rose! We are really indebted to you.” , they said after hearing her decision. “ I want you to promise me something… Promise me that you will take care of each other and stand strong against all the turbulence.” .she said. They promised the same to her. 

For the first time, her smile lit up on her face. She was genuinely happy for both of them. She prayed to god that nothing separates this beautiful couple. Would god listen to her prayers? Was there something really bad going to happen?

(To be continued)

Before it started-part 3

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That night remained a scar in her mind. Why did it have to end like this? Her story had just started. The worst part was that she couldn’t forget him and the feelings related to him. She would cry every night. 

She tried to avoid him every possible way. But things never happen the way you want it to happen, right! She would meet him somehow. His chirpy voice, sweet smile and those beautiful eyes would hurt her heart so badly. She would control her tears and bring a bright smile on her face when she was with him.

The unknown ‘Nadia’ became the villain of her story. Nadia was this …Nadia was that-he would never stop talking about her. He was totally awe of her. Everything she did or said was really special to him. Rose wondered what Nadia had that she didn’t have. Beauty..she was more beautiful than Nadia or intelligence..she was way smarter than Nadia. 

She wondered, “How I wish I could change everything and make him fall in love with me. No!! It’s selfish!!” She wanted to touch him, hug him and never let him go. Her life was standstill. All colour in her life had evaporated. There was no fun in her life. She had become a detached person-invisible to everyone around her.

As usual she was walking with deeps thoughts taunting her. She didn’t realize that she had a company. She looked at her side and greeted him with fake smile.  “ Huh! Too many thoughts, I guess. I have never seen any person so engrossed in their thoughts. College problem?”  She nodded. “I hope it gets soughted. Are you free tomorrow? Anyway, I wanted to introduce Nadia to you. You know she always wanted to meet you.”, he said

.

Oh no! The nightmare! She didn’t want to meet Nadia. She was thinking ideas of avoiding meeting and unfortunately blurted out ‘Yes’. She hated herself for this. She wanted to slap herself. However, she changed her mind after seeing his smiling grey-green eyes.

 It was a sunny day, quite contrary to the views of the weather forecast. Rose was waiting nearly one and half hour. She was losing patience and was about leave. At last they arrived. They were holding hands and looked inseparable.  “Sorry Rose, for keeping you waiting..”, Nadia didn’t complete her sentence and was soon interrupted by him. “Come on Nadia!! You took two hours to get ready! Rose had to wait because of you. Rose, seriously, you need to teach her some lessons on punctuality.” “Stop it, Dan! You are so awful. She understands my plight. You know how important is it for ladies to get ready, Rose.” , Nadia said. Rose gave her one of the usual fake smile. 

It pained her heart to see her love being so happy with someone else. She wished that she could take Nadia’s place. Unfortunately, that was not possible.

(To be continued)

Before it started-part 2

What was this feeling? It didn’t let her sleep, eat or do anything. Was this ‘love at first sight’? Who was this guy who had stolen her heart at their first meeting?  She didn’t know him except his name and family. How could she fall for a stranger? Love was spontaneous. It could happen anytime and with anyone.

Though her house was next to his, but it felt like as if he was miles away from her. She would wait for moments when she could have a glimpse of him. She was no longer interested in college. She would scribble his and her name in her notes during classes.  She wanted to be close to him. However, she would avoid him and run away whenever she had opportunity to talk to him. “Why do you run away from him? He must be thinking I am some kind of weird person.”, she would scold herself. 

Finally she spoke to him. She was walking home from her choir practice. She stopped when she heard her name being called. She turned to see him walking towards her. “Hi! Can I come along with you?” he said. That day she was really elated. She had entered into first stage of love- making friends with him. Their coincidence greetings became more and they became best of best friends after few months. But she never expressed feelings to him as she thought it wouldn’t sound right for her to propose him. Nevertheless she believed that one day he would propose her.  

Her dream was at last coming true when he asked her to meet him during the night. The stars were shining bright on the sky.  The creamy moon hid past the clouds. Cool breeze blew across her soft baby face. She was glowing with happiness for tonight was the night; her dream was going to be fulfilled.  All kind of thoughts were circling on her mind- What is he going to say?  Is he going to say that he feels the same way as she does?  What should she say?  She was both excited and scared. Her heartbeat accelerated with passing of every minute.  “It’s okay, Rose. You are going be fine. You have waited so long for this moment. Just few more minutes of patience and calmness! Breathe in and Breathe out.” she calmed herself down.  

“Rose, sorry for keeping you so long”, he said.  She was staggered by his presence.  “Ah! Hmm!!!  It’s okay. “, she said, thinking of what to say. Her body was shivering of nervousness. “Why am I so nervous?  This is what I always wanted. I shouldn’t have come. Jeez! What is happening to me?” she wondered.  She calmed herself down and looked into his eyes. “Huh! Why did you call me here?, she asked with folded arms to cover her nervousness . 

“I wanted to tell you something .I don’t know how to start” he said with a tensed smile. This added a new layer of excitement in her heart. She couldn’t wait to hear those three special words. There was a long pause and then he began “I am in love, Rose. I am in love with Nadia. “  .  She couldn’t believe her eyes. What is he saying? He loves some other girl, not her. Boom!! Her dreams came crashing and her heart was broken into pieces.

(To be continued)

Before it started-Part 1

The daylight was fading into complete darkness. The busy life was settling into absolute silence zone. There were few people, heading towards their resting abode. The street dogs made themselves comfortable on the centre of the road. The cool breeze decreased the temperature down. The moon was rising up into the sky.

Rose stood motionless and looked at the sky. The stars were looking like the angels smiling at her. She was like a broken angel who wanted to be one of those stars.  Nothing went right according to her.  She had started to depart herself from her closed ones.  She had disappointed her parents for losing her focus on her dreams. Her love life had ended before it started. The pain was piercing inside her heart. She wanted to scream but no voice came out. It stayed inside her. It made her guilty of what she had done. 

What’s wrong with me? Why does this happen to me?  God! What did I do? Why do you always play dirty tricks with me? Was this love simply a mirage?  Why did I fall for him? I knew he was not going to be mine. I should have stopped myself. Oh god, at least you should have stopped me. All these thoughts were circling her mind.  Tears were pouring out of her eyes. They made her eyes soggy.

Her mind was drifting to the past memories. Those were most precious and beautiful moments of her life. She would never forget those moments. How sweet was time before this mess? She wished It remained like this forever……….

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(Present day)

It was hot summer day. She had just finished her day at the college. She was dead tired. She had no time to rest. She had to go for choir practice. She also had to complete a hell lot of assignments. She pressed the lift button again. The sweat was dripping from all parts of her body. It had dissolved with the perfume.  This gave some kind of an odour. She hated that. She seriously had to take a bath.

“What the hell?  Why is it taking so long?” she wondered.  At last the lift door opened.  She was about to rush inside the lift. Suddenly the presence of the stranger in the lift made her stop.  It was her new neighbor. He stared at her for some time and got out. Rose was dumbstruck. She didn’t know what to say- whether to greet him or say sorry. He had most wonderful eyes –grey green ones that was staring her just few minutes back.  She wanted to stare at those eyes for some more time.

(To be continued)

The hope -part 6

Her life was filled with tensions and grief. She was facing troubles from all over the corner. Her mother in law blamed her for being the bad luck in Amit’s life. Her daughter was losing focus in her studies. Ram was blackmailing her daily to meet him. Amit was not able to walk even after the miracle cure promised by the doctor.

Everyone called her selfish. But the irony was she was adjusting to everyone’s desire. She wanted to run away from everything. Was running away the only solution to the problem? However she was not getting anything by pleasing everyone. 

She was getting late for home as it was time for Amit’s medication. “What happened? Don’t show me the same old face. I am not going to let you go soon. I don’t trust you anymore.” he said. She couldn’t take it anymore and burst out crying, “I had enough. Trust! What trust? You said you will be there for me. You broke that promise. I know I should have understood your feelings. I am sorry for hurting them. You have no idea what I am going through. I have inconsiderate family who are not ready to take care of Amit and they are blaming me for his condition. It has been four years since Amit has not walked. I have a daughter who is affected by tensions of my life. Last it’s you who is tearing me apart. What should I do? I feel like killing myself. … You talk about love and betrayal. You betrayed me as friend.” 

Ram was feeling ashamed and guilty after hearing this. He had treated her just like her in laws. There was no difference between him and them. They hurted her throughout her married life and he hurted her by wounding her feelings. “Go!! Go!! You have right to live. I am sorry for treating you like this. Go and get your happiness.”, he said.Meenakshi wanted to hug him. He stopped her and said, “I said leave! Or else I will change my decision. And yeah I will be always there for you. He saw her leaving with his tearful eyes.

(Present day)

She was sleeping peacefully on a chair next to Amit’s bed. Her head was resting on the study desk. He saw and smiled at this moment. He scolded himself for treating her badly over the years. He tried to get up and with all the courage; he put his foot down on ground for the first time. It felt good. He tried to stand with all his strength and walked slowly to her. He nudged her slowly. She woke up to see him standing next to her. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her feelings were like the feelings of a mother who saw her toddler walking for the first time. She was thrilled and hugged him tight. She never wanted to let go of this moment. For the very first time, she felt the lost love come back to her.

                                        --------The end---------

The hope -part 5

Ram’ heart was broken when he learnt that Meenakshi would not be with for a while. When she shared the bad news with him, he simply told her that he will wait until Amit was fine. He knew waiting was going to be really painful. He only wished that he didn’t have to wait for longer time. 

The days passed faster and her visits got lesser. He wasn’t surprised by her less presence. He assumed that her husband needed her full attention. But his assumption wasn’t true. She had started developing feelings for her husband. Was this feeling real or simply humanity? She tried to make herself understand about torturous life she had with Amit. How could she forget that easily?, she wondered. She decided at last that it was better to break off the relationship with Ram. Was it worth it? Ram was the one who stood with her during the hard times. It would be terrible to break his heart. However she had no choice with her.

Ram was struck by her sudden decision. “ What??? I think it’s all Amit’s plan. He must have put all this shit into your head. You don’t have to do this. He has never been there for you. Leave him and come with me. Amit will give you nothing except pain.” ,he pleaded. She nodded her head in dismay and said, “I have no choice. I hate breaking your heart but I have to. I can’t leave my husband. He needs me more than you do. His family is good for nothing and they won’t look after him.” Ram was furious and he left without saying anything. He didn’t want his fury to burn her down.

She called him many times after that unfortunate day. He didn’t pick up. However he missed her terribly. He was angry with Amit. He couldn’t digest the fact that Meenakshi didn’t need him anymore. He felt betrayed.

She was going to meet him after a long time. She wished that he was back to his original self.As usual her wish didn’t get fulfilled. He looked sullen and weak. His eyes were weary and tired. She blamed herself for his condition. “ You don’t look good. Are you fine?” she said. “ Do you think I will be fine after all this? Don’t ask me stupid question when you know that I am not fine” he scolded. “ Well, you cannot take decisions like that. You didn’t even think how I would feel if you left me. I will not sit quiet while you simply leave me .(with sly smile) You rubbed wrong side of me. You have no idea about who I am. I have many proof of our relationship that could tear apart your life.”,he continued.

She had no idea of what she was going through. She was stunned by this image of Ram. She never knew that her best buddy could go mile together to break her down. Why does this happen to her? She trusted someone beyond everything and he tears her apart after doing this. Was her friendship nothing to him? Where was this friend gone who understood her? 

She was standing next to a stranger who she knew long back. She tried to find that Ram she met before.

(To be continued)