Cross Roads of Life

The Heartbreak

                                                                                                    TUSHAR

Tushar,

         

         Everyone gets to a point in life when they realize that they have been doing everything wrong until then and the moment realization hit me. Being someone who wants to keep growing, my dreams no longer fit with your middle class mentality of settling down. I saw a bright future and going to walk on that path and I got someone who can walk with me throughout. I realized that we are not compatible to one another, the sooner you realize the better it will be.

         Don't try contacting me, even if you try I won't be within your reach. I hope you would be mature enough and stay away from me, if you try doing otherwise, I will have to take up the matter in the eyes of law.

   All the best for your life ahead.

Bye,
Ruchika.

Nooooooo..... there is something wrong. This is not how my Ruchi is, we had soo many dreams.

That was the letter I have received from her after 10 days of her visit to her Father. I found things odd... very odd

Dialing her, I found her number dead, I went to her hometown only to find the house vacated. I tried from her company and found out that she has resigned. All the doors closed, indeed a death for my dreams.

I could no longer concentrate on anything, her smile, her soothing embrace, her trust in me, craving for the warmth of her hands turned me insane.

I lost every bit of interest in living, I lost my job in the process and my parents brought me back trying to make me a normal man. If not for my mother's constant sobbing, I would have ended my life long back.

I found no purpose to live a life without her presence, all our dreams crumbled down.

I spent nights crying... unable to find the reason for her to desert my life. What mistake have I committed to punish me in this way?

"Tushar, is she the only one who matters to you? What about your parents? Doesn't their happiness matter?" Amma asked crying.

"What do you want me to do Maa?"

"To be happy, to concentrate on your life, to smile and live. Please don't be like this, it's killing us to see you in this position. If you continue being like this, I and your Father will be left with no other option than death" she sobbed profusely.

I was back to the job hunt, trying to sharpen my long lost skills, finally after five months I bagged a job, and working every second helped me ascend places soon.

My parents worry grew more as I barely made it back home and took a flat far from all of them.

"Trust me Akka, marriage will bring the change we always intended to see in our Tushar. Once he gets the responsibility he will change and the girl will change him" some of our unwanted relatives planted the idea of my marriage in my parents head.

And what followed is emotional manipulation, though I know it, I had to play along and tied the knot only to make a woman's life worse.

                      ~~~~~~~~~~

                               
      
                           APARNA

I was a sobbing mess by the time he ended his story, there were tears in his eyes too.

"How many years it's been?"

"Six" he answered.

"Have you tried reaching her?"

"Not anymore... I tried for three years like a mad man and the defeat taught me that she indeed is done with me" his voice creaked as he kept looking at his picture.

"She is unlucky to miss someone like you" the words came genuinely out of my mouth.

"You have no idea about her, had you met her, you will know what I have lost"

"You are not angry at her? For leaving you?" I dared to ask.

"I know nothing except loving her, she is not a memory of mine Aparna, she is my whole life... my everything" his body shivered as he spoke about her.

Sleep flew away from the window that night, both of us stared at the hollow space and I was too occupied trying to decode what must be the reason for her to write the letter

With the knowledge of millions of books I have read, I tried drawing patterns and possibilities, I was extremely intrigued and curious to know what made her do that? Is there anything major behind the letter? Is she under any problem?

Did she play with his emotions? Or was she in any kind of helpless situation? Why has she never tried contacting him? Is she even alive?

Days kept rolling fast and I was on maternity leave. My mother was extremely impressed at the way Tushar took care of me, he was with me throughout my unending vomitings and regular massage sessions occupied my schedule.

At the noon hour when the sun burned the city my screams echoed in the hospital and I passed out.

Opening my eyes after hours I saw an overjoyed Tushar holding our baby.

He preciously held her in his hands, he walked to me to give her in my hands. Unexpectedly I started sobbing as I took the tiny human in my arms. All the pain I was feeling felt slipping away.

The nurse helped me as I breastfed her, she had a pink face. I was even scared for a few minutes when her tiny body looked all pink.

Looking at her face did something to me, I felt something deeply which I never understood but I promised her to take care of her, give her everything I was devoid of. Moreover, I promised to love her... truly as she will be.

"Thank you soo much for this" Tushar thanked me cradling our little girl in his arms.

"Tushar, I failed as a daughter, sister, and wife. But I don't want to fail as a mother I didn't care how our relationship was moving until now. From now I would expect it to be at least cordial, we might not be a husband and wife but I want us to try being good father and mother"

"You don't need to say Aparna, I will do everything possible to give her all the happiness," he said kissing her little face.