Love is so cruel
sometime.
and in hand, a crisp fresh breeze
caressing their faces, they had a walk down Central park. She was pretty. Today,
she had her hair tied on the nape of her neck, with a few strands of it loosely
falling over her face. With his hair clean cut and freshly shaven, he was of
whom any one would say, “Hotdamn-that’s a man”. Anyone looking at them would
see at the once a perfect couple of turtle-doves. They looked sweet and
adorable as they sat down on the bench taking a breather with his strong arm
warmly held her close. They murmured sweet nothing to each other..
If only they know what is going
on in each other mind. An air of awkwardness hung around them. She felt guilty,
not being able to stop thinking about Pratik. Pratik was two year senior to
her. When she first came to the college, it was Pratik, who helped her. In the
so called foreign land, having someone lik to help her find her feet, she
considered herself lucky. Inseparable, they ate together, met during breaks
and, since both commuted to and fro, went back hostel together.
With the passage of time, they
became more than a friend. Whenever she saw Pratik, a thrill ran down her
spine. She knew it meant something as it never happened with Jiten. She couldn’t
stop thinking about Pratik, wondering what he was up to. She knew it was wrong
but she never told Pratik about Jiten, neither did he ask about her past.
Pratik unaware of the other man
in her life, was the happiest guy alive. He simply knows for sure that the
Kajal love for him was no more than how he felt for her.
Every night she prayed for the
courage, so that she could clear up the mess before it became too dirty. Jiten
and kajal had been together for almost a year. Jiten was sent to California
while she remained in New York.
Although distant, they felt happy
to be on the same landmass. Jiten loved Kajal madly. He was head over heels about her. As for
kajal; well, she did like him but Jiten could never make her feel as Pratik
did. She realized Jiten was not for her.
She knew she had to do something but what? The phone call between them dwindled;
she did not say much and Jiten grew more and more concerned. Then came the real
tricks. Jiten had come to spend time with kajal and Kajal knowing that it was
now or never, asked him to meet her in Central Park as she had something
important to say. Jiten now waits patiently for her to speak. She doesn’t want
to hurt Jiten but she has to do it. She faces him, feeling the hot tears about
to follow…
“What is it, Kajal? It seems
something really wrong?” asks Jiten.
“I’m sorry, really sorry but I
think we not made for each other; I have……I have met someone I love”……
Her word hit Jiten like darts. He
froze. He wanted to beg,”please don’t go. I can’t live without you.
What have I done wrong?. ”He
wants to say so many things but nothing comes out. Nothing comes out of his
deserted lips. Kajal, turns away and sobs. He rests his head in hand and thinks.
All his dreams….dreams he wanted to share with her, have come to a cul de sac.
“I know how you must be feeling”, she went on. “I didn’t want to hurt you but I
can’t just go on this way with you when my heart and mind are with Pratik. Please
forgive me, if you ever can”. Jiten pulled her near, held her close and said,
”you know how much I love you, my dear but no one has power to make anybody
love them in return. If I hold you back, I’m just gonna hurt you. This guy,
whoever he is, is sure lucky to have you, love him. Today may be our last time
together but don’t ever forget that if you ever want a shoulder to cry on or
someone to share your joys with, I will always be there. You will remain a
precious part of me, a memory that can never be erased”. So saying, he gave her
his last kiss and walked away. With a heavy heart, tears filling his eyes, he
lost the person he had loved most in the world.
Love sometime is so cruel.