This might be
the last time…!!!
He was
living this fear since long. He knew one day his worst fear may come true. He
tried by all possible means to convince their parents, even she dint leave any
stone unturned. But their parents dint budge. They always gave more importance
to their ideologies, their values, principles over their children’s urge.
The first
few years of their relationship were like a sweet dream, a dream they never
thought would turn into a nightmare of their parents. They wanted their dream
to come true & they wanted their parents to be a part of it too, but
destiny had a different plan for them in store.
Since a year
or so he was getting the pressure of the situation. While he was reading the
sms in his cell phone, memories of last year flashed in front of his eyes.
She tried
fighting her tears, unsuccessfully though. The tears rolled down her cheeks.
She has the best eyes in the world; in that situation too he couldn’t resist
noticing the beauty of her eyes. He kept watching her helplessly as she buried
her face into her palms. They were sitting in an air conditioned ice cream
parlor in one of the most lavish areas of the city. Despite of the cool
ambience she could sense her burning ears. Sona, he started consoling her. What
can we do? Haven’t we tried our best? He was struggling to find the right words
to pacify her, when she looked up at him & said let’s get married, let’s do
register marriage. At the first instance her statement seemed like a foolish
revolt resulting from a year long protest. As he smiled helplessly she was
staring into his eyes. “Determined” yes determined was the word. After a few
seconds of silence he understood that she was determined while making that
statement. Are you kidding me? That’s not possible, he said in an angry tone. I
want everyone to be a part of our wedding & our married life. I want our
parents’ blessings & I don’t want to hurt any set of parents. While he was
speaking he too knew that what he was proposing was next to impossible. The tears
dried on her cheeks. The pressure was taking a toll on her. She looked tired
but still determined. Ice cream had already arrived at their table. He waited
for her to respond, but she preferred keeping mum. Don’t know why but he couldn’t
look into her eyes now, he looked down only to realize the ice cream has
already started melting. He held her hand & before he could say anything
she withdrew it & started walking out of the parlor. He realized, this well
might be the last time they shared an ice cream, this might be the last time he
shouted at her, this might be the last time she cried helplessly in front of
him, the last time he tried consoling her unsuccessfully. While he was thinking
his cell phone rang, it was her message, “I won’t give up, love you”. As the
screen started looking hazy he reached out for the tissue paper & said to
himself “I can’t afford losing her”
With every
passing day, she struggled through the discussions leading to arguments with
her parents. He thought of breaking up every fortnight, but every sunrise gave
him energy to hold on. The “might be last time” thing kept haunting him every
time they met.
Might be the
last time I hold her hand, last time she helped me cry, last time she listened
to my senseless talks about hope, last time she urged me for a register
marriage, last time we go on a long drive, last time we shared a cup of coffee,
last time we walked a mile without
saying a word, last time we just sit together for hours, last time she shrugs
her shoulders to my hopeless questions, last time I see her off, last time she
asked me to pick her from her office, last time she spoke about her
professional problems, last time she asked me to spend a Sunday with her, last
time she understood my silence. The fear of losing her one day had grown to such an extent that he had started thinking subconsciously that everything related to her
might end soon. He had decided not to think about it anymore, he had left it to
God & destiny. He had started living today.. Yes he knew that was temporary
but that was the only way he could enjoy every moment spent with her.
And one day
to his surprise he got her call early in the morning. Dad has agreed to come
down for a discussion, he has finalized some dates of the next month &
wants to check your father’s feasibility & availability for the same, she
told in the happiest tone ever he had heard. He just couldn’t believe what he
heard. Before he could respond she started speaking again let’s go & check
the hall availability for the dates short listed by Dad. I don’t want anything
to go wrong now, see you at 11 at CCD. While he was trying to recover from the
sweet shock she hung up the phone.
In the next
few hours they ensured that nothing will go wrong at least not because of the
availability of the wedding halls on the short listed dates. They enquired
about rent, catering, decoration, conveyance & all the necessary
facilities. But they dint pay the advance, just because they wanted everyone to
see the hall before booking. Finally
their patience was paying. Yesssss, he said to himself, there will no longer be
the fear of the “might be the last chance” syndrome. She dint understand what
he was talking about. When she gestured asking him what was that, he just
responded with a sly smile.
Finally the
day had arrived. Both the sets of parents were sitting face to face. He got a
call from the wedding hall guy to confirm their date; he hung up the phone
assuring him that he will communicate the date in an hour or so. They both were listening to their parents’ discussion with thumping heart.
Everything was going well until the topic of shortlisted dates & halls came
up. They both dint understand what happened & how it all happened. Who
provoked whom to exchange bad words? Unfortunately the discussion had turned
into an ugly argument. While her dad got up & pushed back the chair in
anger, other members involved in the discussion continued cursing each other. He
sat frozen in his chair when she left his house with her parents. Her dad said in
a frustrated tone that he dint expect such a response from his parents, he
folded his hands as he walked out.
Beep beep…
his phone rang. It was her message, “This might be the last time we met, take
care… Love u lots…”
His phone
rang again, with teary eyes he watched at the hazy screen of his cell. It was
the wedding hall guy again. He pressed the decline button. His phone rang again
& again & again. After 12th consecutive call he picked up,
the person from the other side warned him in angry voice, “Sir this might be
the last time I am calling you to confirm your booking date, otherwise we have
lots of customers in the que”
“Go ahead
with the new booking” he said while he fought against the choking throat.
As tears
rolled down his cheeks, he said to himself…
“Last time, this indeed is the last time”
Kay P. Aar
Very Heart touching !!!
ReplyDelete