Standing
at a crossroad, bracing herself, she was looking in a vacant direction; gushing
air scuffling her hair out of her control. A dark grey hoodie covering her
delicate, rather fragile, frame of body. Her bare fair feet peeping out of a
faded jeans – she always liked walking barefoot.
She
was holding a letter from someone she always loved.
I’ve realized my mistake, Mahika.
I want to re-correct it. I know you love me. I realized I love you too and I want to marry you, Mahika. Please,
come back to me! I'll stop this marriage. Please, Mahika!
In
her other hand, she was holding an invitation envelop, in which the letter was
delivered.
A
feeble smile appeared on her face – not trying a bit to hide the sarcasm – the
ironic setting strengthened her smile. The crossroad denoted her confused mind,
while the hassled hair reflected her life.
What should I do? Mahika asked herself, although she knew
what must be done.
Five
years ago, Kunal entered the college gate with his girlfriend Sonal and they
both passed across Mahika, who had her eyes fixed upon him. Confident of her
own towering height, she wondered how good they would look together. You are living in a fallacy, girl; he’s
already taken. Her smiling face hung long.
This
has been the case for last two years now. All she has managed is to get a wave
back, only when he notices her looking at him.
It’s all because of her
girlfriend that he doesn't come up to talk to me she would think to herself.
A
couple of months passed, when news spread out about Kunal-Sonal fallout. Although
none knew the reason behind their break-up, some felt bad and some were happy
citing it as the end of their ‘we-are-perfect-couple’ show-off. Still there wasn't one who was as happy as Mahika was.
From
picking up the best dresses from her wardrobe to shopping everything she
thought would appeal Kunal, Mahika did all she can to get his attention. But a
week passed without his presence.
Is he crying over the break-up? She asked herself, No, that can’t be the case, he can make any
girl weak in their keens.
Shiny, but I just hope the
haircut I planned next week, wouldn't ruin my look, she thought to herself clutching
a thin line of hair between her fair long fingers, before her eyes fell on
nails, I need to buy a new nail polish,
probably a baby pink color.
“Busy
preparing for exams?” said a voice over her shoulder.
Definitely him!! She turned to look at Kunal’s
fair and bright face; he removed shades off his eyes and smiled. Closing the book that was placed on her lap, Mahika stood against him, grinning.
It
didn’t take them too long to get into a relationship. Mahika has never been so
happy and she did make most of it – they would bunk classes to go on bike
rides, click pictures and post them on Facebook, talk to him all through night,
eat mid-night ice-creams – there was nothing she would want and not get.
But
life is no joyride, they say. Her life fell apart in a moment when she got up to
a message from Kunal, which said, I know
that you love me a lot, Mahika, and so I hope you will understand our inability
to control or alter our feelings. I’ve honestly tried all this time to love
you, but I’m sorry, Mahika, I’ve always loved Sonal and couldn’t love anyone
else. I’m sorry, Mahika!
Everytime
her name appeared in the name, her heart ached a little more. I love my name whenever you call it, Kunal
her words to him ringed in her ears. She felt as if she woke up from a beautiful
dream to the horror of her life. She lay there, holding her cell, eyes teary,
and heart betrayed.
What next? I don’t want to think!
Will you talk to him? No! I need to speak to him! How can I face him? Will he
be able to face me? Will you slap him? I want to hold him! This went on for some quite a
sometime, before she slipped into a deep slumber.
Managing
to step into college, she saw Kunal and Sonal sitting on a bench, talking. She
turned her face away and continued walking when she felt their eyes on her
back. Stop looking at me!!
“Mahika,”
he called her, a week after their break-up. She turned, slapped him and walked
away.
I hope I’ll never have to face
him again
The
bride and groom both were gleeful, standing on a podium. Kunal looked stunned
at the sight of Mahika in a red, sexy shimmering saree. She walked up to the
newly married couple with a genuine smile. Handing a lavishly decorated gift to
Kunal, she walked down after wishing them both.
After
the ceremony, Kunal realized a note was attached to the gift presented by
Mahika. He read it to himself, “I don’t know what made you think I’ll just walk
into your arms after what you did to me. Go screw yourself, a******."
The gift
was a grey colored hoodie that he had gifted her on their first date years ago.
