Stories

The Break-up

Silence has its own way of settling in. Quiet and lost, Neha sat on the bench. Significant as it has always been, it was that bench where everything started. Tears dried, she looked into the space. Besides her was Viraj. He looked at her, tensed, concerned. “You know we can’t do anything Neha” he said.

Tears started to roll again. Slowly she blinked and her forehead turned into a frown. Viraj tried to hug her by an arm but she pushed him away. Eyes red she looked at him directly. “At least we could try?” Viraj looked down in partial shame and part guilt. He had nothing to say. The night was settling in. Sitting on their favourite bench of Marine Lines Sea Face, the couple knew that this would be their last time.

The feeling was unsettling, uneasy and unbelievable. They were in a relationship for six years. It wasn’t just a relationship. They had given everything away for each other. Changed, moulded and compromised, they had taken a shape to fit each others’ needs and now all of sudden, they both knew that everything was over, only to meet a tragic end. Looking away into the dark sea, Neha said, “Can you even imagine Viraj, the good morning or good night that we said last was the last time after now?”

She looked at him, again crying, yet smiling in pain, she continued, “Can you imagine the last time we kissed was the final time after today?” Viraj couldn’t hold back his grief. He too began to weep. Their hearts ached. “Why…?” said Neha faintly. “There was no option baby…” said Viraj. “We weren’t destined to be together” and the silence paved in. “Six years Viraj. Six year and you suddenly decide to go?” asked Neha with agitation. Viraj tried to hug her again but Neha was firm. She pushed his hand behind.

Looking away from him she said, “Go away Viraj. Go away. I can’t look at you anymore or else it will destroy me forever….just leave” she said and held her face into her hands. She sobbed hard and then looked up after a couple of minutes. She calmed herself and looked besides her. Viraj was gone. Right into the thin air of the cozy night. He had left, leaving her all alone on the bench where he had proposed to her six years ago. The very place where they met for the first time, befriended and then set off on a new journey of relationship.

Neha kept looking into the blank and then faintly said, “I love you Viraj….” tears began to roll again as she looked into her phone. The infinity display glowed into the aching night. It displayed a news article of that day which read “Captain Viraj Naik and his team of 10 martyred in J&K during a Gun Battle with terrorists” Neha slowly rubbed her finger over Viraj’s photo in the news article and finally with a deep breath, she came to terms with the reality…

Stories

The Hug

It had just rained. The sweet aroma of the freshly wet mud was settling in. Untimely though, a slight shower in the month of love was the perfect gift for every couple. Rajiv and Sneha sat in their favorite spot. Unlike others, they didn’t bother the commotion around. Sipping their favorite chai, this tea stall’s bench had become an integral part of their life. 

While they both never ran out of topics to talk upon, today was a different day. The always bubby Sneha was quite as moon and the always cheerful Rajiv was lost in his own world. A slight smile played on his lips and Sneha couldn’t help but blush.  

Rajiv has a peculiar way of smiling and Sneha loved it from the core of her heart. “I have never seen such a fresh smile ever Rajiv” she always said. “I have something to tell you” said both of them together.

They both gave out a sheepish laugh. Rajiv immediately asked Sneha to speak. To which Shena said “no no…men first!” They both chuckled at the joke and silence tore in. Rajiv took in a huge breath and let it out.

He looked at Sneha. His eyes soft. His face smooth and his gestures obvious. Sneha already was melted. “Was this the moment?” she asked herself. Almost blushing in joy she looked at him. He said, “Sneha…I think I am in love…”

Sneha was eager to hear more. There was a twinkle in her eyes. She continued to look at him in a single stare. “You know, after Tina left me, I felt there is nothing left in life…but now, now I don’t feel the same anymore”

Sneha smiled. She had played a very been back his side during his breakup with Tina. Rajiv looked down and looked back up at Sneha and said, “I feel wanted again Sneha. I feel wanted! I feel amazing, I feel loved!” Sneha couldn’t wait anymore. Her patience were running out! She wanted to hug him, that’s when he said…”I think I am in love with Tanya”

Sneha was taken aback. Her face still wore a smile but her heart sank. He continued, ‘I think, she is perfect. She is so understanding, loveable, accepts me the way I am and…she looks also a little line Tina”

“Yeah..Tanya…She is a good girl for you Rajeev” said Sneha with a heavy heart. “She is a good girl” she said, this time reassuring herself…Rajiv kept looking at her..”Thank you Sneha. Thank you for always being there for me” he said.

Sneha could do nothing but simply smile back to him. He came forward and hugged her. She too hugged him with one hand while the other hand which was in her bag let loose a ring box that she had got and pressed it back into the depths of her bag…