pic courtesy: Google images
He was sitting in Café Coffee
Day, sipping his coffee and staring at the small package lying on the table in
front of him. A gift which was long overdue. He sighed thinking he has to hurry,
he has to still pick up his bags and reach airport right on time, to catch the
flight to Delhi. Before that, he had to make a phone call. He picked up the
package and smiled thinking what will her reaction be after seeing the gift inside.
He was getting engaged after 2 days and will be married in a month. But this
gift was not for his would-be wife. This was for someone special, from his
past.
He remembered the first time he had met her in her friend’s "house warming" party. She was dressed very elegantly but
she was not the standing-out-in-the-crowd kind. She was the blending kind. He
was surprised that he noticed her. She had smiled at him and her eyes had
sparkled behind those glasses of hers. But she was still not noticeable enough
to hold his interests.
He relaxed back in his chair wondering
how he even remembered all these things. He was not that kind of a person to
remember all these emotional things.But still he remembered every detail about her. He remembered the second time he met her,
in a Café Coffee day, something like the one he was sitting now. She was with
her friends, laughing, making jokes, pulling leg. And her personality was so
vibrant that he couldn’t stay away from her, he was compelled to go to her and
re-introduce himself as the person she met in “that” friend’s house on “that”
day.
He had invited her to have coffee
with him. She had glanced towards her friends indicating that she was with
company. He still didn’t understand on what compulsion he had told that he will
wait for her till her friends left. And he had waited.
And when she had joined him for the
coffee, well, then he understood what a humble and well educated person she was.
She could talk about anything but she was not a blabbermouth. He remembered
feeling so comfortable in her presence. They had exchanged numbers and soon
became very good friends or was more than that. He didn’t want to dwell on that
thought. He shook his head and glanced around himself to remember he was still here.
He paid his bill and climbed his
car to drive home. How they had started meeting every weekend, seemed so
natural to have her presence in his home every Sunday. He remembered dropping her at the end of her street, never in front of her house. She had cooked for him
on occasions. She was always so generous and humble.
He remembered the evening she was
stuck up in a place, with no way to get home and had called him. He had rushed
to her help and was so furious that she didn’t take care of herself. Something had stirred his heart that day thinking that when she was in trouble, she had called him and also that when she was in trouble it troubled him. She had
just touched his cheek and said 'Thank you' and had smiled that innocent smile. She had so much trust in him. Unknowingly a smile tugged at his lips now.
And how could he forget that
dreadful day when he got the news that he lost his brother in an
accident. He was so drunk that day, she had rushed to his side to support him, to be a
shoulder to his grief. And how she had lied to her parents that she was staying
in her friend’s hostel. She had stayed back with him, had hugged him the whole
night, supporting him, grieving with him. She had made breakfast for him in the morning,
packed his bags, he had already booked a flight ticket, but she had made all
the other arrangements. When he was leaving, she had just smiled and said “Take
care of yourself for me”. They both knew he is not coming back.
That was the only time she ever
indicated that she needed something from him, and that need also was about him not about her.
She had never asked for anything,
never indicated how she felt about him, never pressured him for any commitment.
He had always known that she loved him, maybe even he loved her. But at that
age he was not ready to make a commitment, he was a free bird and she had let him
be whatever he was.
He smiled thinking how she always
kept him informed about her contact details. Never failed to wish him on his
birthday. She never forgot his birthday and he never remembered hers. But she was never angry with him, always smiling, always accommodating. But still after all these years she never expected him to do anything
for her. He parked the car in the garage and went inside the house. Quickly he
changed his dress, and got his luggage, called the taxi to confirm that they
are coming. And sat down to wait for it, he picked up the gift again thinking
how much she will be surprised to see this. He immediately dialed her number,
bracing himself to hear her surprised voice.
“Hello Ananya, Arjun here”
“I know, but I was surprised so
was doubtful as to who is this”
“So no hi anything, just doubtful”
he said with a smile. He knew she knew that he is smiling.
“Hi Arjun, How are you” He could hear smile through the her voice
“Hi Arjun, How are you” He could hear smile through the her voice
“Am fine, how are you??!! And before
I forget tell me your address”
“Why ??!!! are you here in my city??” He
immediately recognized her eagerness, her pleasure to know that he might be
there. He grimaced, he didn't want to disappoint her.
“No, but I have something to send
you.”
“Me?? ......... What??”
“Something”
“Ok, write down”
He wrote down her address. And in
a slow voice he said “Ananya, am getting engaged day after tomorrow. Am leaving for Delhi right now”. She was silent for a long time, he got worried, he was not sure
what to say, he just said “Ananya, are you listening”
"Why are you telling me this Arjun ??!!""I have to Ananya................ No, I need to.. I mean...." He couldn't complete the sentence.
Suddenly in a very cheerful voice she
told him “Am sorry, I was just shocked for a moment. That’s great news, good
for you. Who is she? Is it a love marriage? Why didn't you tell me before, that
you are planning to get married”.
He knew immediately that she is
faking cheerfulness. He answered all her questions, but somehow he was still surprised that he was not as cheerful as expected, not even as much as she was faking it. He inquired about
her life, after a few minutes of talk, he bid her goodbye and ended the conversation.
He kept staring at the phone, remembering. 6 years back how she had frantically
tried to reach him, but he was away on a pleasure trip with his buddies to Australia.
After coming back he saw her mails, lots of them and the last mail had just stated
that she got engaged to be married in 3 months. He had felt an ache in his
chest, he didn't know why. The same ache which was forming now again, but this
time he knew why.
He wrote her address on the gift,
and saw that the taxi had arrived. He picked up his bags and the gift, locked his
door and started to the airport, on the way he couriered her gift. He reached
the airport on time, got in his flight and when he relaxed on the seat, the
ache in the chest was still there. But somehow he felt he had ended a chapter.
He knew it was time for him and her to let go of the past.
Ananya got a parcel in the morning;
she signed for it and opened it. Inside the box was a card and a small velvet
box. She opened the card and read “For all those moments that I didn’t give you”.
She opened the box to find a beautiful bracelet with many charms on it. As soon
as she saw she immediately knew who sent it, and that all the charms were
especially made for her, as all the charms were related to something she loved.
She understood that he always knew what she felt, she let the tear drop from her eye, she let the unshed tears flow for the
untold love of her life.
Must say a mesmerising read ... It hurts more when the love remains untold for your entire life ... Brilliant Nivedita ...
ReplyDeleteThanks Amit.. i agree with you it hurts more when both of them always knew but never express it... thanks for reading.. I made some minor changes... i hope it made the story even better to read :)
DeleteI read 2 times..to get the real feel of it... probably was not fully inot it reading the first time...!!! probably like the untold truth that remains within the chambers of humanly bodies...
ReplyDeleteBut..yes...untold remain untold and suddenly seem so near and dear once told. Nice nerration, truly have the art of captivating the reader, Nivedita...Good One.
thank you for reading :)
DeleteExcellent story telling Nivi!!! Superb flow the Flashback and connect to the present was ultimate. there were butterflies in my stomach imagining the pain of burying the untold love!
ReplyDeleteYou are magical in story telling! Keep writing
glad you liked it.. actually was waiting for your response :) you lift up my spirits.. thanks dear :)
Deletei am so happy that i found your blog :) you never let me down!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteWow! such a touching story... nice narration. At a moment unknowingly I was praying why cant they come back to each other.. Cafe coffee day - a lot can happen over coffee! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful..
ReplyDeleteMany times, there is a full stop required to put an end to a great feel. otherwise it keeps pulling us to stop wherever it requires.
Even though the untold feel has a great feel..still the ache created from it pains sometimes..
It is great writing i must say...Arjun Ananya had a great bond...but at the same time..the way it is constructed makes this writeup awesome...
Super stuff CB....