I was sitting at the Corner Cafe, the same place where I partied last. As usual, I made to the place in time. I looked around me. Things had changed in the last four years. Not only the interior of the Cafe and the menu that was kept on the glass table, but I too had changed. In the last four years, I became unsocial; no Facebook updates. I remembered I changed my relationship status four years back from single to married and my casual profile picture to a bridal one. After that, I was tagged by some of my in-laws in their group pictures which I would intentionally Untag myself. My husband never clicked our picture and if by chance someone did, he never uploaded one. Life had been more like a routine that I had to follow. I never lived a single day in the last four years with happiness, love and gratitude. I lived because I had to. The chirpy, the funniest human being in me died that day when my parents fixed my marriage with Aakash. I wanted to marry highly qualified person who could match up with my own. Like every girl, I had a certain obsession about my life partner. Aakash did not suit in any of my criteria. But my parents selected Aakash, an accountant, in a reputed public sector organisation. I was a PhD holder in Physics whereas Aakash was just Masters in Commerce. My dream to purse further studies got crushed with my marriage. My parents never understood my desire and I choose not to share with Aakash. I did not even tried for a job and just to keep myself away from depression I took some classes in a reputed coaching center. And with the amount that I received from the Coaching Institute, I took care of my own expenditure. I never used Aakash's credit card though he gave me one after our marriage.
I felt someone shaking my chair vigorously. I turned.
Stacy and Violina were there. I stood up and hugged them.
'Mehak, you haven't changed. You still look sexy and stunning.' Violina complimented.
I blushed. I heard a compliment after a long time.
'Aakash has magic in his hands.' Stacy remarked.
I smiled. I had less interest to talk about Aakash.
'Violina, Congratulations. How is your baby girl?' I quickly asked, shifting their attention from Aakash.
'Both my husband and daughter are the same. They want me to be around them always.'
'Poor you.' Stacy quickly remarked.
'Huh! Disgusting.' Violina nodded.
Violina married her long time Beau Suraj. He was a peculiar person, at least for me. He did not like Violina socialising with her friends. He wanted all the attention. Violina's life revolved only around him. She was married for three years and recently she gave birth to a baby girl who was just two months old. After her marriage, three of us met today. Every time we planned something, she would cancel at the last moment. And then we stopped calling her to get togethers. This time it was her plan. She dropped her baby at her mother's place and came to meet us without her husband's notice. I felt lucky in this matter for Aakash never said no. I remembered how he hosted my friends very warmly after our marriage. Aakash cooked different dishes and Stacy and Violina were jealous of me. They felt I had the best husband in the world. Stacy would sometimes surprisingly drop in at my place and Aakash would excuse himself, giving us privacy. He would make sure that I had a good time with my best friend. But Violina's husband never liked her friends dropping in without prior notice.
There was a complete silence. Violina was going through the menu. And Stacy was checking her mails.
'Why have we met? Can't we keep our worries away, at least for some time?' I finally broke the silence.
Both nodded. We ordered our all time favorite sizzlers, baked fish and strawberry mojito.
I asked Stacy about her job. She was a data scientist, and was working with one of the famous MNCs. She had been to Paris recently and narrated us about her trip.
'When are you thinking of settling down?' I asked.
'Find me someone like Aakash, I will.' She mocked. She always kept Aakash in high regards. After her breakup, she stopped trusting guys. Her 12 year relationship ended in a bad note and after that she became career oriented and had decided never to get married.
We ate our lunch, listening to all the adventures Stacy had in Paris. But in my mind, I was thinking about Aakash. I always thought I was not happy after marrying Aakash but I could not find a single reason to blame Aakash. Unlike Violina's husband, Aakash always asked for my approval before sex. He never forced himself onto me. I remembered after two years of our marriage, our parents wanted us to have a child. I told Aakash I need some time to think. He respected my opinion. He never argued with me.
After lunch, we bade each other with a promise that we would soon catch up again.
I walked lazily in the street. I was lost within myself since I failed to value the most precious gift of my life. That moment, I realised my mistake. And I thanked my friends for that. Had we not planned to meet after four years, I would have never realized that how my life was happy and content only because of Aakash. The four years of my marriage flashed in the mirror of my thoughts. I turned page after pages, but failed to find any incident when Aakash misbehaved with me. He was supportive, understanding, caring and someone who never forced his decisions upon me. In the last four years, Aakash never made me feel that I was no longer at my parents place. He had taken care of each small thing; likes, dislikes, what turns me on, what turns me off and so on. In fact, I understood now that he was perfect.
I took out my cell and dialed Aakash's number.
'I love you, Aakash. You have been the best chapter of my life.' I said even before Aakash could utter a word.
'Who are you?' an unknown voice asked.
'I am Aakash Sarma's wife. Who are you?'
'Please come to Apollo Hospital. Your husband met with an accident.'
I could not believe what I heard just now. I booked a cab and rushed to the hospital.
I went to the enquiry office. There I met the man who admitted my husband to the hospital. He told me that Aakash was hit by a water tanker. He handed me the wallet, mobile and a bouquet. He told me that my husband had injuries in his head.
I could not keep myself strong. Tears dropped and I collapsed.
I did not know how long after I gained consciousness. I was in an unknown cabin. I saw my husband's belongings there. A bouquet of white orchids too was there. I saw a greeting card there. A Note was there.
O beloved,
I want to get drenched
In the rain
Of your love...
Hold me
Closer,
Let me feel you,
Let our breathe together -
Create symphony,
And for a moment,
Let the world stop,
As our lips meet
And let me be yours
Forever...
Happy Anniversary dear!
I hugged the bouquet and tears burst out. I never wished him and he never forgot our anniversary...
I felt someone shaking my chair vigorously. I turned.
Stacy and Violina were there. I stood up and hugged them.
'Mehak, you haven't changed. You still look sexy and stunning.' Violina complimented.
I blushed. I heard a compliment after a long time.
'Aakash has magic in his hands.' Stacy remarked.
I smiled. I had less interest to talk about Aakash.
'Violina, Congratulations. How is your baby girl?' I quickly asked, shifting their attention from Aakash.
'Both my husband and daughter are the same. They want me to be around them always.'
'Poor you.' Stacy quickly remarked.
'Huh! Disgusting.' Violina nodded.
Violina married her long time Beau Suraj. He was a peculiar person, at least for me. He did not like Violina socialising with her friends. He wanted all the attention. Violina's life revolved only around him. She was married for three years and recently she gave birth to a baby girl who was just two months old. After her marriage, three of us met today. Every time we planned something, she would cancel at the last moment. And then we stopped calling her to get togethers. This time it was her plan. She dropped her baby at her mother's place and came to meet us without her husband's notice. I felt lucky in this matter for Aakash never said no. I remembered how he hosted my friends very warmly after our marriage. Aakash cooked different dishes and Stacy and Violina were jealous of me. They felt I had the best husband in the world. Stacy would sometimes surprisingly drop in at my place and Aakash would excuse himself, giving us privacy. He would make sure that I had a good time with my best friend. But Violina's husband never liked her friends dropping in without prior notice.
There was a complete silence. Violina was going through the menu. And Stacy was checking her mails.
'Why have we met? Can't we keep our worries away, at least for some time?' I finally broke the silence.
Both nodded. We ordered our all time favorite sizzlers, baked fish and strawberry mojito.
I asked Stacy about her job. She was a data scientist, and was working with one of the famous MNCs. She had been to Paris recently and narrated us about her trip.
'When are you thinking of settling down?' I asked.
'Find me someone like Aakash, I will.' She mocked. She always kept Aakash in high regards. After her breakup, she stopped trusting guys. Her 12 year relationship ended in a bad note and after that she became career oriented and had decided never to get married.
We ate our lunch, listening to all the adventures Stacy had in Paris. But in my mind, I was thinking about Aakash. I always thought I was not happy after marrying Aakash but I could not find a single reason to blame Aakash. Unlike Violina's husband, Aakash always asked for my approval before sex. He never forced himself onto me. I remembered after two years of our marriage, our parents wanted us to have a child. I told Aakash I need some time to think. He respected my opinion. He never argued with me.
After lunch, we bade each other with a promise that we would soon catch up again.
I walked lazily in the street. I was lost within myself since I failed to value the most precious gift of my life. That moment, I realised my mistake. And I thanked my friends for that. Had we not planned to meet after four years, I would have never realized that how my life was happy and content only because of Aakash. The four years of my marriage flashed in the mirror of my thoughts. I turned page after pages, but failed to find any incident when Aakash misbehaved with me. He was supportive, understanding, caring and someone who never forced his decisions upon me. In the last four years, Aakash never made me feel that I was no longer at my parents place. He had taken care of each small thing; likes, dislikes, what turns me on, what turns me off and so on. In fact, I understood now that he was perfect.
I took out my cell and dialed Aakash's number.
'I love you, Aakash. You have been the best chapter of my life.' I said even before Aakash could utter a word.
'Who are you?' an unknown voice asked.
'I am Aakash Sarma's wife. Who are you?'
'Please come to Apollo Hospital. Your husband met with an accident.'
I could not believe what I heard just now. I booked a cab and rushed to the hospital.
I went to the enquiry office. There I met the man who admitted my husband to the hospital. He told me that Aakash was hit by a water tanker. He handed me the wallet, mobile and a bouquet. He told me that my husband had injuries in his head.
I could not keep myself strong. Tears dropped and I collapsed.
I did not know how long after I gained consciousness. I was in an unknown cabin. I saw my husband's belongings there. A bouquet of white orchids too was there. I saw a greeting card there. A Note was there.
O beloved,
I want to get drenched
In the rain
Of your love...
Hold me
Closer,
Let me feel you,
Let our breathe together -
Create symphony,
And for a moment,
Let the world stop,
As our lips meet
And let me be yours
Forever...
Happy Anniversary dear!
I hugged the bouquet and tears burst out. I never wished him and he never forgot our anniversary...
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