Our lives: Always close - Never together

Life has lot of desires that flow like a water stream. They originate with a thought and take many forms. Eyes make us to enjoy the beauty of life, but the heart addicts to that beauty beating forever. In the beautiful journey of life, travelling alone can lead us to the destination but the real excitement comes-in travelling with a partner. Life shows us many persons but we don’t know who will be our soul mate among them. Destiny binds two lives that are distant from each other and brings them into a relationship. But something like this also happens when destiny interferes in a relation which I am going to narrate.

I was a person who love to travel. It was the month of December when my friends and I were touring Kerala. Its splendid beauty, lush greenery, made us to feel heaven on the earth. Snow fall till mid-day, cool clouds passing on the cliffs and the depth of the valleys created everlasting magic on me. There were many groups, couples and lovers at the spots enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, there was no girl in my life. So, the presence of a partner and the essence of the romance in the cool zone was missing. After spending three spectacular days of my trip, I was on my way back to the home. The return flight bound to Hyderabad got delayed by three hours due to inclement weather conditions. Getting bored, my friends went for shopping and I started to read a book in the lounge of the Cochin airport. There was a person beside me speaking to a girl over a call. He was informing her about the flight delay and assured of meeting her soon. Due to the weak signal he was repeating the words. But, that helped me a lot in understanding the conversation. I tried to avoid listening his words but my decency failed to stop me and I managed to know that he loves that girl very much and they are going to meet soon. His phone got switched off while talking to her. You could sense the eagerness when a boy wants to talk to a girl and something like this interrupts. I felt, she might be calling him but he has no option left. I thought of giving my mobile, but he himself turned to me and asked: Boss, can I make a call. As if I don’t know what had happened so far, I said:  Sure, with a smile.

He spoke to her for a while and handed-over the mobile thanking me. Then, we both started introducing each other. His name was Imran. Hesitating to ask, I put forward my doubt if he was talking to his girl-friend so far. He replied yes. There was ample of time to board the flight and I was getting bored to read, so asked him casually: Are you going to Hyderabad? He again replied yes. I felt odd. I was trying to talk with him and he was simply giving one line answers. I said I am also waiting for the Hyderabad flight. Shall we go for a coffee? Having coffee, I started telling about my friends, tour and asked him if he would mind telling his story. Taking deep breath, Imran smiled and started his story: “It was around 8:30pm on Saturday when my Mom and I were waiting for dad to return from office. Mom got an old family album from the cupboard and we both started to see the photos. As it was an old album we were slowly flipping, memorizing everyone. Dad came after sometime and we all had dinner together. Dad informed that my Uncle’s family is visiting our home tomorrow. I was listening to him going through the album and stopped at a picture. Next day morning, I had breakfast and was about to go out to meet my friend.  Doorbell ranged suddenly and I expected it would be Uncle’s family. My uncle and my father were very close since their childhood. I also admire him a lot. Mom opened the door to welcome Aunt.  I went to assist Uncle bringing the luggage from the car. While I was approaching him, I saw one more person stepping out from the car. For some time, I was blank and surprised to see my niece, Inaaya. Her childhood face flashed in my memory from the photo of the album where I stopped suddenly the last night.

Nine years back, due to an assignment, my uncle had to shift to a different location. My father asked uncle to go with Aunt leaving Inaaya at our home. But my uncle didn’t want to give us trouble and admitted his daughter into a boarding school. It was the last time I saw her closely. Later she continued to pursue her higher studies staying in a hostel. She was never been to my home and now, I welcomed her smiling and asked how are you? She wished my family members with her alluring smile. She used to be very naughty in her childhood but seems to be different now. I was bounded by her charm and manners. The attraction in her face made me to forget everything. Elders were busy in their discussions while I was busy looking at her. It was a very beautiful evening with these people at home. Sorry…with my beautiful niece at home. After a while, my mom asked me to get ice cream from the store. As I started, my father asked Inaaya about her favorite flavor. She replied Butterscotch in a sweet voice looking at me. I never carried my lunch box with such care as I carried the ice-cream pack. All of us had dinner and Inaaya started to serve ice cream. She came to me offering the ice cream bowl. It should be the ice cream that has to melt at that time, but my heart melted down touching her fingers, which were as soft as the butterscotch ice cream.

Next day morning, Uncle and Dad went out on some work. I didn’t go out to meet my friends though they called me twice. I was like desperately looking forward to talk to Inaaya. There was some feel, there was some chill and there was something which I don’t know. Am I getting attracted to her? Do I like her? Nothing was usual in me. I don’t know when they will leave but her presence in my home was like a cloud in the sky that can pass out anytime. My emotions and efforts were trying to get into some conversation with her but I don’t have any clue on how to start. Half day passed and it was the lunchtime when my father and uncle arrived home with sweets. Uncle gave me the sweet box and went inside to meet Aunt. Dad asked me to get some water. As I was entering to kitchen, she stood at the door holding the tray with two glasses of juice. I said one glass is enough; should I give the other glass to your dad? It was the moment of the day for me to hear her replying: No, the second one is for you. It was me who was trying hard to talk with her, but she started to do it. We discussed about our hobbies, education, jobs and families. She explained how her life went on in a hostel in the past years. During our discussion, the news that made me happy was that Uncle is shifting back to our place and they have aso bought a house here. I felt it will not be far for me to meet Inaaya. Her smile always attracted me and I just loved her eyes. She pinged me Hi…asking my number and there was no control on my emotions. The water that gushes down the falls is now gushing in my stomach. The cool breeze passing from the door is making me shiver. What is this feeling? I questioned to myself. A person who always roam outside with friends had spent almost two days with a family and that too for a girl is enough to confirm that I started to like her". Our flight has been announced and we had to move for check-in stopping the story. Though we were in the same flight, we couldn’t find time to continue the story. I had spent time with my friends in the flight and Imran was on another seat. We bid bye to each other hoping to meet next time. My friends booked a cab and we started to go home. My friends were asking about Imran in the cab and then only I realized that I have forgotten to take his number. I reached home and met my family but was thinking, If I could meet Imran again.

Two days later, one of my friends came to my home to copy the tour photos from me. Mom got some snacks to eat and we were going through the pics. At an instant while looking a snap that was taken at the airport lounge I got an idea..!!! I checked my phone’s call list to see Inaaya’s number that was dialed by Imran. Felt very happy to see an unsaved number. My friend insisted to call Inaaya to get Imran’s number. But, finally, we decided to ping her. We messaged…. “Hi Inaaya”. No reply till an hour and then I messaged again saying “Hi Inaaya, Can I get Imran’s number?”  This time instead of reply, I got a call from Inaaya’s number asking: "Who are you?". I introduced myself and told how Imran and I met at the airport.  I asked if she can share his number and told her that I heard of your love story. Then she replied: "This is Inaaya’s friend. Imran came here yesterday to see Inaaya for the last time". I got shocked and questioned: "last time? Why, What happened?". She replied: "Imran loved Inaaya very much and discussed with his parents about this. But, he doesn’t know that he was confessing about his love lately to his father". I asked: "Why, why it was late? He told me that Inaaya’s family was planning to relocate to Imran’s place". She said: "Yes, Inaaya’s father came back to Hyderabad on the purpose to fix Inaaya’s match". I got puzzled and asked Imran’s number to have a clear understanding. She gave me the number telling: “Imran is leaving to Delhi today as he cannot see Inaaya getting married to someone”.

I went into a terrible shock listening those last words. I disconnected the call and connected to Imran. His pitch was dull. I asked him where is he now. He said he don’t want to meet anyone and disconnected the call. I tried again and got to know he is in a hotel to leave airport in an hour. I reached hotel and asked what’s wrong with you Imran. Did you tell about your love to Inaaya? Her friend was telling that you were late in telling this to your father. Is she getting married?

                   Imran said: “Yes, I told Inaaya about my love and I had expressed my interest to marry her in my family. But, my heart shattered after listening to my father’s words. The time when Inaaya came to my home, I spoke about Uncle and father who went out on some work and returned home with sweets. That was the day when the groom’s family invited my father and uncle to discuss about the match. They fixed the marriage date and came back home with sweets. Uncle thought of making an official declaration when all the guests gather to his house-warming ceremony. By that time Inaaya and I started loving each other. We used to chat, speak late night, but we never knew that there will be a day soon which will blew away the nascent fire of love from our hearts. We thought to express our feelings in our families after the ceremony. But, our short journey of love which was just on the track derailed when Inaaya and I listened about the marriage. After reaching home, I discussed this with my family. It was Uncle who thought it will be a trouble to my family if Inaaya stays at our home during her childhood. But now it’s my dad who said this is not the right time and we shouldn’t trouble uncle’s family saying this when all got arranged. May be that was correct from the elder’s point of view. My mom spoke to Inaaya and consoled her. We respected our elder’s decision and agreed to them. It’s the destiny to which we were bound to. Days passed on without talking to her. We were just living thinking of each other. The marriage date was due in three days. I have decided to go far from her before she gets married. I couldn’t dare to start from Hyderabad so I booked ticket from Cochin to Delhi to my friend’s home. But, due to bad weather my flight got cancelled. Inaaya called me when I was at the airport. We both wanted to see each other for the last time and I booked ticket to Hyderabad again. She was crying, I said I love you and will meet you soon. That was the moment when my battery drained and we met with each other at the airport”.

I asked Imran to come home with me. But, he denied and boarded the flight to come back after the marriage. He showed me his last picture with Inaaya that shows all the heaviness in their eyes. He said our lives are always close but we will never be together. I thought of listening a blooming story meeting Imran but ended in understanding the pain one endures missing their partner. This was an incomplete journey of two lives that came across each other with destiny and separated by destiny. Life is all about living with happiness with what we have and praying to God for the best to have.