Second Chance

8 years later

I completed my MBBS in AIIMS, New Delhi. Now, I joined as an assistant doctor in Life Care hospital, Hyderabad. I’m a neurologist. I don’t do operations yet, but I help doctors and observe them.

I hope my grand father is alive today. He’ll be happy to see me wearing white coat and treating people. He used to say my grand mother would have become a doctor if he didn’t marry her. He said he crushed his wife’s dreams under the name of marriage.

Marriage, for everyone it might be a happy memory. But for me, it gives brings deep guilt. I don’t know why, may be because I like ring’s design or may be because this ring is costly, I didn’t remove my engagement ring.

At the age of 26, I’ve a handful of salary, a decent job, a nice flat that I have bought with the amount my grand father saved for me. Everyone would say I lack only marriage now. But they don’t know, I’m married, or was married. They don’t know I might have spoiled someone’s life by running away after marriage. Now I just hope he got married again and got a good wife, a wife who doesn’t run away like me.

Maybe love isn’t written in my destiny. Or, maybe I don’t deserve to hold such precious things.

I’m doing grocery shopping in a near by mart when I saw someone who looked exactly like my husband. Correction, ex-husband. I later checked every corner of the mart but couldn’t find him.

I must have mistaken someone as him. He should be in Vizag. I remember him to be a chartered accountant. He’s 5 years older than me. Even though my uncle forced me into this marriage, I must say Krishna, my ex-husband’s reputation is not that bad. Everyone I met said I’m lucky to marry him. And also, I won’t say he’s extremely good looking. He’s above average in looks wise. But it’s not like I’m perfect, I’ve my flaws.

I’ve just reached my flat when my phone started ringing. It’s McKenzie, an American girl whom I met in AIIMS. And she tagged with me to Hyderabad from capital.

“Hello babe, open the door” she said as soon as I accepted the call. She lives with me in the same apartment.

“How many times I’ve to say to you to bring keys wherever you go, since I’m here now, I opened the door, else what’ll you do?” I asked her.

“Then I’ll just jump into Ethan’s room.” She said. Ethan, is from UK. She met Ethan one year ago in Hyderabad and they both got into relationship. It was very fast. I used to lecture her about how true love takes time but she won’t listen. I just hope there won’t be any heart break between them.

She’s a musician and Ethan owns a bar & restaurant in Hyderabad. She went for a job to him and within two days I saw them as a couple. As a matter of fact, they both lost their virginity to each other. Whatever it is, I don’t allow Ethan to stay night in my flat. Because I don’t want to get famous through neighbor’s gossip.

She doesn’t like how I don’t allow Ethan to stay in this flat but Ethan took a room in our opposite street just for her.

“When did you not jump into Ethan’s room and bed?” I question.

She kept her guitar aside and came to me, keeping her hand on my shoulder spoke, “That’s why Yamu I asked you to meet Alan. Though he’s from UK, he’s interested in Indian girls and most frankly, I heard from Ethan that Alan likes you. You see, at this age you being single is a problem. You didn’t even have a kiss.”

Alan is Ethan’s friend.

“You know my past right? And I’m not ready to start a relationship.” I said.

“You are babe, you just feel guilty and you are feeling you are selfish. But let me tell you for the thousand time, you are not selfish. Your aunty and uncle are selfish to marry you early so they don’t need to take care of you. Your ex-husband is selfish to marry you without asking for your opinion. Stop being guilty. I’m worried about you. How long will you stay like this?”