‘Shreya
lets sit there’ said Vikas as they passed through the crowd towards a
vacant bench. They were on their way to Ooty for their anniversary; five years
since they had tied the knot. They were happy together; well atleast Vikas was
while Shreya was like a placid lake with depths too profound to even fathom.
She was a dutiful and caring wife; infact a little too much at that. She never
in the entire span of their marriage so far ever fought or demanded anything
from him.
Their's was an arranged marriage though
Vikas fell head over heels in love with Shreya the moment he set eyes on her.
That was more than five years back and now they were together waiting for their
bus to Ooty to spend some quality time together.
Shreya and Vikas both worked as Software
Professionals; they led a busy life. Shreya a little too much; at office she
always would be neck deep in work while at home she would at all times be on
her toes rushing to meet the needs of her family. They found very little time
for each other. Vikas made efforts but Shreya just couldn’t make the time.
Finally after many years Vikas succeeded in coaxing her to take a break from
all that for a romantic retreat.
Finally the bus arrived and they took their
seats. As they left the city behind, Vikas felt really happy; he looked towards
Shreya who has fallen asleep awfully quickly. She looked so calm and beautiful
as the moonlight lit her face. He held her hand and closed his eyes looking
forward to make this trip a memorable one for both.
After a few hours as Vikas lay sound asleep,
Shrey opened her eyes and looked towards him. She wasn’t sleeping; not one bit.
She wasn’t calm; she felt a pain in her heart one that she had been carrying
ever since they got married. Tears rolled down her eyes as she looked towards
Vikas and then turned towards the window. It was hard; she carried a secret and
intended to keep it that way but this trip was making it harder for her. What
was the ache, the anguish that was haunting Shreya?
We
must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. ~Kenji Miyazawa
Six years back
‘It’s
beautiful Rohit!’ exclaimed Shreya. She was so happy to be finally in Ooty
with him. It was their first vacation as a couple; ofcourse a secret one at
that but all the more exciting.
‘So
what are we going to do for three long day’s madam!’ winked Rohit.
They had been together for five years all
the way from the very first semester of college. They were not merely seeing
each other; infact they actually complemented each other. They truly were made
for each other; the quintessential pair. Shreya made up for Rohit’s temper being
the calmer one while Rohit made up for Shreya’s childlike nature being the more
matured one in their relationship.
They entered the room and looked out of the
window towards the hills and the small but enchanting train station that lay
there in the quiet of the night. It was blissful. They stood there hand in hand
happily looking forward to more such outings in the future but next time as
husband and wife. With a glass of wine; they began their three days of escape together which eventually became
the most precious memories of their life. They danced in the rain, cycled
around the town; trekked and spent innocent blissful moments together.
But their happiness was cut short a few days
later when parents from both sides refused to heed to their desires. There was
no way they would allow Shreya and Rohit to settle down together. Efforts were
made but all met with stiff resistance because the infamous caste and society bane crept up in the
open; destroying what could have been a match for eternity!
Where
you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly
walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell. ~Edna St. Vincent Millay
Shreya woke up to the sound of horn and as
she looked around there was Vikas still in deep slumber. They had reached Ooty;
the same place where she had spent moments which now were the sole reminiscence
and strength for her to get through this long life! As Shreya alighted from the
bus Vikas took her to their hotel. Shreya
waited in the lobby when she heard someone call her name from behind but it
wasn’t Vikas. She turned and was shocked to see Rohit there right infront of
her eyes. Yes it wasn’t a dream it was indeed Rohit.
‘Rohit’ she stood there perplexed at the
situation.
Before Rohit could say anything a woman
walked up to Rohit from behind; held his hand and pulled him towards the gift
shop. She hadn’t seen him speak to Shreya. Shreya took a long hard look at her
she was beautiful and she showed Rohit a something that she wanted to buy. As he
paid for it, she hugged him and kissed him on his cheeks.
I hate
the day, because it lendeth light to see all things, but not my love to see.~Edmund
Spenser
Shreya could look no more; she turned away
and walked towards the other side of the lobby. The lady was obviously Rohit’s
wife. Shreya was filled with jealousy and sadness all at the same time. She
couldn’t bear the thought of Rohit with another woman but then what could she
do as she herself was there with a man she never managed to love. She slowly
turned back and saw them leaving; Rohit all the while trying to catch a glimpse
of Shreya while his wife held on to him tightly. Shreya cried and wailed inside
to see her love being taken away from her once again. She wasn’t happy and this
was probably how she would be for the rest of her life.
As
soon as forever is through, I'll be over you.-Toto
What was the good that her parents’ were
talking of when they forbade her from marrying Rohit? A question she pondered
upon every moment of every day! As she stood there deep in thought, Vikas
walked up to her and they left for their room. While Rohit was playing the part
of a good husband; Shreya too donned the cloak of a devoted wife; but the truth
was both were living a life of lies for the vanity of elders who believed more
in regressive dogmas than in love itself!