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.
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